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CONTRIBUTION TO THE ANNUAL SECTORAL DEBATE Hon. Natalie Neita­Headley, MP St. Catherine North Central Minister without Portfolio (Sport) Office of the Prime Minister Wednesday, June 5, 2013 Jamaica’s Sport Policy and Sport for Development, Growth and Equity Fuelling Sporting Success for Future Development Salutations and Thanks: Mr. Speaker, I remain eternally grateful to the Almighty for everlasting grace and mercy. The constituents of St. Catherine North Central are responsible for my continued presence in this Honourable House to serve my country at the highest level. To them, I owe a debt of gratitude. They are my source of inspiration in the unyielding demands of public service. I believe that we were placed here Mr. Speaker, not only as an expression of our desires and aspirations but that some attributes make one prepared for the tremendous sacrifice demanded of the people’s representative. Mr. Speaker, each year we thank our families for understanding even when they don’t. With the changing fortunes of public service, my family remains a source of stability. My two girls bear the true burden of my decision to serve and I am thankful for their unending support and love. My beautiful girls Morgan and Sidney, I pray that one day you will forgive me for missing so much. To my younger daughter Morgan who is now doing CSEC exams, I apologise for my inability to give more to the process, I am however confident 1 that you will do well; you were properly prepared at the greatest secondary institution located at Monk Street in Spanish Town. I thank the most Honourable Prime Minister for her continued confidence in my capacity to carry responsibilities for a portfolio she has made her own. I thank my colleagues, in and out of politics, on both sides of the aisle for their support and guidance. I am strengthened by your solidarity. I wish to express my sincerest thanks to people of North Central St. Catherine who increased their support at the polls in December 2011. Your confidence in me will never be taken for granted. To my supportive Councillors, Executive Members, Cluster Managers, Office Staff, Head of CBO’s, Church and School family many of whom are here today in support I say thank you. Mr. Speaker, the diverse constituency of North Central St. Catherine is presented with many challenges through which I steadily work in a quest to achieve a better quality life for its residents. Mr. Speaker, after some three years without the precious commodity, water supply was returned to Sligoville. The Government of China has assisted in providing eight new pumps at a value of some fifty million dollars. I thank the government and people of China for this gift. The people of Richard Hall and Mt. Dawson after 16 years without this special commodity have now been approved for a rehabilitation of that system through the combined efforts of the NWC and Rural Water Supply. Project design works have now been 2 completed and OUR approvals already received. We now await the tender process for the commencement of construction works on that system. Roads Mr. Speaker, the Jeep made a stop in Jackson and Kensington, Bogwalk to Knollis. We look forward to the bridge for Rentcombe, the road from Springvale to Giblatore, the completion of the section from Zion Hill and a phased rehabilitation of scheme roads along Brunswick Avenue. Education Mr. Speaker, education remains a strong focus for us in the constituency. From the Adult Literacy Programme (PEP) to the dream of a complete replacement of pit latrines with modern water closets at all primary schools in the constituency, thanks to the partnership with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund. Mr. Speaker, of our fourteen primary schools, only two remain in this project. It is our belief that in this 21st century, no child should have to be exposed to the dangers and unsanitary conditions of pit latrines. Planned Development Mr. Speaker, the heritage tourism project being coordinated between the Sligoville Heritage Foundation, TPDCO, UNESCO and JNHT for the first free village of Sligoville, is an exciting venture which will transform the communities of Sligoville to an area of vibrant social and economic life. 3 Mr. Speaker, we have accomplished much and we are passionately working on forging the partnerships necessary to continue the process to improve the lives of our constituents. Mr. Speaker, I thank everyone who has taken time to help me become familiar with the wonderful world of sport. I also thank all of you who have served and continue to serve on the many committees that have been formed to execute a variety of initiatives that have been undertaken over the last several months. I thank the members of the Sport Museum Committee, the Athletes’ Celebration Committee, the Athletes’ Insurance Committee and the Sport Tourism Committee for your service. Mr. Speaker, I also wish to express appreciation to all the Chairpersons of the various agencies and institutions that support sport. The Hon. Michael Fennell, Dr Herb Elliott, Dr Warren Blake, Mr. Don Anderson and Ms. Rosa Joseph, the newly appointed Chairman of the Board of the G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport. I thank those who serve as Managing Directors, Acting or otherwise, Administrative Directors, Executive Directors and Principal of these organizations. We salute you for your dedication and the significant contribution you make to this process. Mr. Speaker, even now, we in the sporting fraternity still mourn the loss of our dear friend and stalwart, Neville “Teddy” McCook who left us in February and longtime Vere Technical High School coach, Constantine Haughton who left us in May to join Howard Aris and the many other Coaches, Olympians and 4 servants of sport in the new sport arena in Heaven. May their souls rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon them! As we think about those who have made significant contributions to the development of sport, I have to single out one person who is here today and who has been a big part of Jamaica’s sporting landscape for over three decades. Mr. Speaker, the Hon. Michael Fennell, President of the Jamaica Olympic Association, is one of our longest serving sport administrators and a person who has helped to guarantee Jamaica’s place at the highest level in the international halls of sport. He is a dedicated stalwart; a man of integrity; and a man with a wealth of institutional knowledge who continues to serve Jamaica with humility and without fanfare. Mr. Speaker, I also want to take this opportunity to salute the many other volunteers who dedicate themselves to the development of sport in Jamaica. In March, the Prime Minister and I had the opportunity to meet with the heads of these associations and federations to not only share with them the Government's short and medium term Strategic Priorities, but also to listen to their triumphs and challenges as they seek to do what they do best. No nation can be built without the work of volunteers. 5 Our Athletes Continue To Do Us Proud Our Olympic achievements are well known and have been widely celebrated. But we cannot help but mention them here today, as these Games gave us our largest medal haul in history. Mr. Speaker, we sent a team of 50 athletes to the Games of the 30th Olympiad in London from July 27 to August 12, 2012. We were represented in four sporting disciplines: Athletics, Equestrian, Swimming and Taekwondo. The results were again dominated by our Track & Field athletes who won a total of 12 medals, 4 Gold, 4 Silver and 4 Bronze. Of these, Mr. Speaker, 9 were from individual events and 3 from relays including a world record in the 4x100 metres relay for Men, an Olympic record by Usain Bolt in the 100 metres and a national record by the 4X100 metres Women’s relay team. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to acknowledge two of our Olympians, Deon Hemmings and Michael Frater who are seated in the gallery. The other sporting disciplines, although not winning any medals, also performed credibly, especially Alia Atkinson in Swimming, who placed fourth in the 100 metres breaststroke; and had the entire world watching as she won a memorable swim‐off to reach the final of the event. Mr. Speaker, our Paralympians journeyed to London last summer as well for the Paralympic Games and they continued to shine. Special congratulations to Alphanso Cunningham, who took home the gold medal in the F52/53 Javelin Throw and who continues his illustrious career as a world beater Paralympian 6 and a role model. Our persons with disabilities show us that they can rise to the challenge of overcoming mental and physical impairments. In boxing, we won our first world title on home soil when Nicolas “Axeman” Walters won the WBA Featherweight title last December. In football, the Reggae Boyz beat the USA for the first time on home soil and continue to be in the hunt for qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. In cricket, the West Indies victory at the ICC Twenty20 World Cup and subsequent successes, as well as the creation of the Caribbean Premier League suggest that our cricket may be finally moving in the right direction. I am optimistic that the fortunes will change. I echo the congratulations of the Prime Minister to our Jamaican nationals, Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Andre Russell who have made us proud with their performances over the year as well as our own Stafanie Taylor who is here and continues to be the best overall female international cricketer.

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