Premier Parry: Let us honor our sports heroes
Speaking on his weekly radio program “In Touch with the Premier” (Tuesday, August 14) on Choice 105.3FM, the Premier noted that for sports people to perform at their best they require equally good facilities. He said he is looking into the possibility of effecting the improvement of sporting facilities on the island.
“I hope that the government can eventually give to the people of Nevis what can make them perform, a proper stadium, I hope that can be done,” said Hon. Parry. “We have outstanding athletes and we really want to put our support behind them, and help them to reach their greatest potential, something we must work towards.”
Reflecting on the just concluded London 2012 Summer Olympics, Premier Parry remarked that while Nevis did not have a physical representation at the Games, three athletes of Nevisian parentage flew the island’s flag high.
“You might be interested to know, one lady who has connections in St. John’s, and in Cotton Ground, who is (Nevis Drag Racers Coordinator) Carlos Vanterpool’s cousin, earned a gold medal in boxing,” said Parry. He said she was boxing for Great Britain and her name is Nicola Adams, and her grandmother is from Cotton Ground and her grandfather (Manny Manners) is also from Nevis.”
Nicola Virginia Adams, who was born on October 26, 1982 in Leeds, boxes for Haringey Police Community Club. As of July 2012 she was rated world number two in the flyweight (51kg) division behind Chinese world champion Ren CanCan.
Miss Adams, known to her family as ‘Babyface”, reversed her fortunes when on August 9, 2012 she became the first woman to win an Olympic boxing gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She demolished the world’s No. 1, China’s Ren CanCan, 16-7 to take the title.
Parry said that representing Canada in the sprints were two brothers who are also of Nevisian parentage. “I think they are to call (Winston) “Sonny Boy” Skeete uncle, or great uncle. I know their mother, and they are related to Yvonne Farrell. They carry the name of Warner, but they didn’t make it to the finals.
“Even if Nevisians at home were not performing, Nevisians in the Diaspora were doing their thing, and I want to congratulate these people, their parents, and I also want to hold them up before Nevisians,” the Premier said.
The Premier highlighted the exploits of the 19-year-old javelin thrower from Trinidad and Tobago Keshorn Walcott, who shocked the world with a throw of 84.85 meters which earned him a gold medal.
“Our own Adrian Williams threw the javelin 68 meters and he is 17 years old,” the Premier said. “I believe that with training over the next four years, he should be making 85 meters or even 90 meters and be up there challenging the young man.”
Reflecting on the gifts showered on Walcott by his Trinidad & Tobago government , Parry said: “We need to know how to honour our heroes. Let us raise them to our shoulders, and lift them even higher like the government of Trinidad and Tobago has done for this young Trinidadian who has done so well.
“Let s promote Adrian Williams, let us promote (cricketer) Kieron Powell, because they can do far more for the promotion of Nevis, and St. Kitts and Nevis than either you or I can.”
“These guys, just like these athletes can achieve so much. Let us celebrate them. Let us lift them up. And Nevisians, I want you to see what the government of Trinidad and Tobago has done for one man.”
The Premier also hailed 16-year-old American gymnast Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ Douglas who became the first African-American gymnast in Olympic history to become the individual all-round champion, and the first American gymnast to win gold in both the individual all-round and team at the same Olympics.
“I thought she represented Black people and not just in the United States of America,” said Premier Parry.