ALABAMA, April 28, 2011 - Grenada's ace athlete Kirani James is fine and away from any danger
following deadly storms which affected Alabama and at least five other Southern
states.
The number
of deaths hit 131 in Alabama alone, with loss of life in Mississippi, Tennessee,
Georgia, Virginia and Kentucky bringing the preliminary total to about 215.
However, that number is expected to rise as emergency officials search for more
victims.
James, who
attends the University of Alabama, confirmed via a text message, that he was
fine but described the situation as “it’s that bad”. There is late word that another Grenadian Trish Bartholomew who also resides in Alabama is not affected. Like James, Bartholomew is also preparing to depart the State and join the teammates who will be representing Grenada at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia this weekend.
The
University received no structural damage from the EF-5 tornado that devastated
Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon, University spokesperson Cathy Andreen said.
“We’re
concerned with all the neighborhoods that were affected that have students,
faculty and staff,” Andreen said. “We’re still waiting for more information on
how people have been affected by the tornado.”
Andreen
said 65 students who have damage to their off-campus residences stayed at the
University Recreation Center last night.
The White House announced that President Obama will visit
Alabama on Friday.
Contributions from Crimson White & Campus
News (UA)
NEW YORK, April 27, 2011 - Grenadian nationals in New York will
have an opportunity this weekend to make an input into the Diaspora Initiative
being developed by the Grenada Government.
The Diaspora Consultative Committee of New York (DCC, NY) is
collaborating with the Consulate-General Office in New York in staging a
Diaspora Conference on Health. It will be held at the Beulah Church of Nazarene
at 1250 St. Johns Place in Brooklyn.
Participants are expected to make presentations in various aspects of
Health including Primary, Preventative and Tertiary Care; Mental Health; Human
Resources; Nutrition and Elderly Care. There will also be workshops involving
health professionals.
Saturday’s conference is among outreach programmes being facilitated
by the Office of Diaspora Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development.
The Ministry will host the second Diaspora (Founding) Conference at
the Grenada Trade Centre in St. George’s on August 2-3, 2011 under the theme:
The Grenadian Diaspora Partnering in Nation-Building.
Delegates representing DCCs from Canada, Washington DC, London, and
New York will make presentations on various thematic platforms at the Grenada
Conference. There will also be presentations from Diaspora Youth Organisations
from London, New York and Toronto and a discussion on the Grenada Draft
Constitution. An organised group of “Returning Nationals” residing in Grenada
will also make a presentation at the Founding Conference.
In Grenada, presentations will also be made on Tourism, Business and
Investment; Sports and Culture; Education and Skills and Health.
The Health Sector has been identified as a critical area for attention
and a number of Grenadian health professionals residing in the north-east
region of the United States have expressed interest in providing assistance.
Shalrie Joseph's equalizer against Sporting Kansas City is the New England Soccer News Goal of the Week. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
APRIL
26, 2011
- Shalrie Joseph’s game tying goal for the New England Revolution against
Sporting Kansas City on Saturday has been named the New England Soccer News
Goal of the Week for the week ending April 24.
Sporting went ahead 2-1 in the 69th minute, but the
Revolution didn’t trail for long, as Joseph got the equalizer in the 72nd
minute. Kenny Mansally drove a free kick from 35 yard out near the far sideline
to the opposite post, where Joseph rose up above the Kansas City defenders and
slammed a header into the net.
ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA, April 27, 2011
- The newly reconstituted St. George’s University (SGU) Monitoring
Committee, Chaired by Hon. Nazim Burke, Minister of Finance, held its first
meeting with the SGU on Thursday April 21, 2011.
This was also the first meeting
between Government and SGU since the signing of a new Agreement last December.
Among the many matters discussed
were:
- The
commencement of a Clinical Teaching Programme, carded for September 2011 at the
General Hospital in St. George’s; and
- A
degree programme for teachers.
The Clinical Teaching Programme will
not only provide training for SGU students, but will provide additional
equipment and Specialists at the General Hospital, thereby improving the
delivery of Health Care in Grenada.
In respect of the degree programme
for teachers, this is consistent with Government’s thrust to lift the quality
of education, through an increased number of Graduate Teachers.
The SGU delegation was headed by Dr.
Charles Modica, Chancellor of the University.
The members of the newly
reconstituted Monitoring Committee are:
- Hon.
V. Nazim Burke, Minister for Finance – Chairman
- Hon.
Franka Bernadine, Minister for Education – Deputy Chairperson
- Mr.
Rohan Phillip, Attorney General
- Mr.
Timothy Antoine, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance
- Mr.
Aaron Moses, Office of the Prime Minister
- Mr.
Terron Gilchrist, Policy Advisor to the Minister of Health
- Mr.
Christopher De Riggs, Director, Private Sector Development, Ministry of Finance
The Committee and the University have
agreed to meet on a monthly basis to monitor the implementation of activities
with respect to the new Agreement.
SOURCE:
Ministry of Finance, Planning, Economy, Energy & Cooperatives
More than a
quarter of a century on from the murder of prime minister Maurice Bishop in
Fort Rupert, Grenada, controversy still rages as to how the New Jewel Movement,
which led a Marxist revolution against the tyrannical Eric Gairy in March 1979,
imploded less than five years later.
Among the
facts which are undisputed are that on October 13 1983 the central committee of
the party ordered the house arrest of Bishop.
Thousands
of Grenadians marched to Bishop's house to release him and carry him to Fort
Rupert where he was expected to address them.
On arrival,
gunfire started which resulted in Bishop and most of his cabinet being put
against the wall and shot.
The guns
were then turned on the crowd resulting in "hundreds" of deaths.
This was
exactly the excuse that then US president Ronald Reagan was waiting for.
The
Grenadian socialist government had been so successful that the full ire of the
US and the dirty tricks section of the CIA had long been giving it their full
attention.
Reagan sent
in 8,000 troops along with air and naval support to take the island back into
the US imperialist fold.
The rest of
the New Jewel leadership were given a show trial and jailed for 17 years
- all this on an island with a population of just over 100,00 people.
Gus John
visited the island in December 1983 and kept a detailed diary, which is used as
the basis for a book which highlights the fear, betrayal and plain confusion of
ordinary Grenadians.
John argues
that following the release of the remaining members of the Grenada 17 after 26
years in jail, now is the time for a full and frank explanation of the events
up to the US invasion.
While
acknowledging the interviews of Selwyn Strachan and Bernard Coard in the
Morning Star last year John claims that fundamental questions such as who
ordered the murder of Bishop and the firing on the crowd, what happened to the
bodies of the dead and what exactly led to the divisions amongst the leadership
which triggered the disastrous events of March 1983 remain unanswered
Although
followers of the Grenadian tragedy will learn little new from this book, John
makes a powerful case for suggesting that like South Africa with the ending of
apartheid, it is difficult to forge a new future until the questions and ghosts
of the past are finally laid to rest.
ST.GEORGE’S, APRIL 26, 2011 - Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has described
the contribution of former Speaker of the Grenada House of Representatives, Sir
Curtis Strachan, as immeasurable and invaluable.
The Prime Minister this morning
interrupted a sitting of the House of Representatives to inform the House of
the passing of Sir Curtis, who gave 52 years of service to Grenada at various
positions within the Public service, including Clerk of Parliament and Speaker
of the House of Representatives.
“Sir Curt has serves as a tower
of information for parliamentarians, especially those who were elected for the
first time. He was never too busy to assist those who called on him for help.
He was a person who gave selflessly in support of the development of our democracy,”
Prime Minister Thomas said Tuesday.
He expressed on behalf of the
government and people of Grenada, and on his own behalf, sympathy to the family
and friends of Sir Curtis.
As a result of the Prime
Minister’s intervention during this morning’s meeting of the House of
Representatives, Speaker Mc Guire called for a minute’s silence in observance of
the contribution of Sir Curtis to Grenada and the institution.
Trooper Denton John will be among the soldiers escorting Queen Elizabeth II.
London
(CNN)-- Growing up on the streets of Manhattan, riding skateboards and
listening to punk rock, Denton John never expected to find himself where he'll
be on Friday -- on horseback, boots gleaming, as the only American in the royal
wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton.
But that is
just where he will be, in white gloves and red plume, as a member of the
Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, protecting Queen Elizabeth II as she leaves
Westminster Abbey to return to Buckingham Palace.
Smiling as
the spring sunshine glints off his breastplate outside the palace, Trooper
John, 23, explains that he grew up in New York City, the son of immigrants from
the small island nation of Grenada.
"When I was young, it was all about
skateboarding, punk rock... I was into everything," he says. But after graduating from Wadleigh High School in Harlem, he decided
to take a year off rather than go directly to college.
He spent it
in Grenada with his parents, and that's where he decided to enter the selection
process for the British Army.
John was
eligible to serve because he holds Grenadian citizenship, as well as American.
The Caribbean nation is a member of the Commonwealth, the association of
countries that used to be part of the British empire.
He hadn't
considered a military career when he was a kid, but by the time he was 20, it
appealed, he says.
He liked
the idea of being part of something larger than himself and seeing the world --
and as a soldier, he says, you "mature faster as a person."
He passed a
pre-selection process in Grenada and further selection in England, then passed
basic military training and headed for the Household Cavalry.
That's the
same unit both Prince William and Prince Harry, the second and third in line to
the British throne, served in after they graduated from Sandhurst, the British
military academy.
Unlike the
royals, though, John had never been on a horse before joining the army.
That's
actually not unusual in the storied unit, he says: "About 90% of Household
Cavalry troops never sat on a horse" before entering the Army.
But with
two years of training now under his belt, John will spend all day Friday on
one, culminating when his squadron, the Blues & Royals, escorts the queen's
carriage home after her grandson's wedding.
And
although tourists rightly see the Household Cavalry as a showpiece of the
British monarchy, John is quick to point out that they are soldiers first and
foremost.
"We
are the Queen's Life Guard," he says. "We are the first line of
defense if anything should happen to that carriage. We are very vigilant as
soldiers."
"I'll
be taking in the sights and sounds, but I'll be very focused on my job,"
he says.
John will
be in a unique position Friday, says Captain James Hulme of the Household
Cavalry.
"He is
the only American in the Household Cavalry, and as far as we know, the only
American in the Royal Wedding," Hulme says with a grin. "It's our
version of the 'American Dream.'"
It's John's
parents' dream, too, he says. They knew he was in the Army, but didn't know
exactly what his role was until recently.
"My
mom's very proud," he says. "She's telling everyone about this."
CATHERINE
HALL, Jamaica, April 24, 2011 – Grenada
ended day two of the LIME CARIFTA Games in Montego Bay, Jamaica with six (6)
medals.
Adding to Kellon Alexis’ (Westerhall Secondary School) bronze medal in
the Under-20 Boys Discus on the opening day on Saturday, Genard Paul (MacDonald
College), Emron Gibbs (TAMCC), Andell Joseph (Hillsborough Secondary School),
Lyndon Toussaint (TAMCC) and Kendra Richards (St Joseph’s Convent St Andrew)
also collected medals.
Paul took gold in the Under-20 Boys Long Jump with a fifth-round best
of 7.19m after leading the first three rounds with 7.03m. He was challenged by
second-placed Clive Pullen of Jamaica (7.15m) and bronze medallist Charles
Greaves of Barbados (7.10m).
Paul bettered his winning performance of 6.95m at the Scotia Bank
Inter-Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships.
Gibbs took silver in the Under-20 Boys Javelin (63.57m) in a
record-breaking event where Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago copped gold
with throw of 72.04m.
Joseph and Toussaint were second and third respectively in the seven-event
Heptathlon while Richards took bronze in the Girls 3000m Open in 10:56.28.
CATHERINE HALL, Jamaica, April 24,
2011 – Grenada picked up one medal on the opening day of
competition at the 40th edition of the Junior CARIFTA Games at
the Montego Bay Complex on Saturday.
Kellon Alexis of Westerhall Secondary
School took bronze in the Under-20 Boys Discus with an effort of 50.60 metres.
Lindon Toussaint was fifth in the event with 48.30m. Travis Smikle of Jamaica
and Akeem Stewart of Trinidad and Tobago took the top honours with 62.84m and
51.50m respectively.
Two other athletes came close to
medalling on Saturday. Nickhalia John finished fourth in the Under-20 Girls
400m in 55.40 seconds and Sergio Wilson was also fourth in Under-17 Boys
Javelin with a throw of 51.20m.
In other Grenada results, Nerena
Aberdeen (5:02.62) and Kendra Richards (5:04.25) were fifth and sixth
respectively in the Under-17 Girls 1500m while Deron Hazzard (4:22.43) finished
seventh in the boys’ version. Genard Paul was sixth in the Under-20 Boys High
Jump with 1.90m.
Other performers on the opening day
were Stephen Frank (51.32) and Maxwell Ramsay (51.52) 9th and
10threspectively in the Under-17 Boys 400m; Che Mason (50.61) 13th in
the Under-20 Boys 400m; Brian Thomas (11.36) and Robin Thomas (11.70) 14th and
18th respectively in the Under-17 Boys 100m; and Lucy Fortune
(12.19) 9th in the Under-20 Girls 100m.
Medal hopes for Grenada on day two
will rely on the performances of Andell Joseph and Lindon Toussaint in the
gruelling seven-event heptathlon.
After four events, Joseph was third
on 2,758 points and Toussaint, last year’s bronze medallist, in 6th spot
with 2,600 points.
Joseph, of Hillsborough Secondary
School, won the javelin with 59.66m and Toussaint was second with 57.70m. Both
athletes won by more than 10 metres over the third placed competitor who
registered 47.18m.
Joseph and Toussaint were second and
eighth in the long jump; and sixth and seventh in the 110m hurdles. Toussaint
was fourth and Joseph was fifth in the 200m.
The remaining events on Sunday
include the high jump, discus and culminating with the 1500m at 8:20 p.m.
Eastern Caribbean Time.
Since
coming to the University of Alabama, Kirani James has done one thing – win. The
talented sophomore has already rounded up a stash of accomplishments, including
winning the NCAA 2010 men’s outdoor 400-meter championship.
“I think Kirani has represented the
University of Alabama in tremendous fashion,” head track coach Harvey Glance
said. “He has been a conference champ, national champ, world-junior champ,
world leader and he’s been very comfortable being an ambassador for Alabama
track and field.”
James has not only led the Crimson Tide
on the track, but he has also been a leader off it as well.
“Kirani is just an amazing person,”
distance coach Joe Walker said. “Everybody talks about him as an athlete, but
the thing that stands out most to me is how much of a team guy he is,
especially in what is considered an individual sport. He just brings a maturity
beyond his years.”
James always knew he was one of the
faster kids growing up. At 13 he participated in the Caribbean games, and from
there on, the Grenada native knew he had what it took to be a world-class
runner.
“I did extremely well,” James said.
“Since I saw that, I realized that I could compete with everyone and run fast.”
The 2,000-plus mile trip from Grenada to
Alabama makes it hard for James to see his family back home. However, James
claimed the transition was not too difficult.
“It’s not really that bad,” James said.
“I know why I’m here. I’m here to get an education and to continue my
athletics, so I try not to worry about it much and focus on the task at hand.”
Since arriving at the University, James
has received a parental treatment from coach Glance, who James says is like a
second father. Glance said he’s seen a real maturation in James since he joined
the team.
“It’s great to know he sees me as a
mentor, someone who has done what he is trying to do,” Glance said. “He is
trying to learn. He is trying to learn to be a model citizen, to respect people
and treat people like he wants to be treated. I really like that about him
because that’s all part of growing up.”
James has often been compared to Glance,
a gold-medal winner, in both athleticism and in the confidence they exude.
“What I see in Kirani is that he hasa
very quiet confidence,” Glance said. “If you are not careful around that confidence
that he portrays, you’ll be overwhelmed. He’s an extraordinary athlete, he’s
kind of like a magnet in that he draws people to him. He is a very
people-oriented person.”
James has the potential to capture the
same Olympic success as Glance did, and Glance said he expects James to be
extremely successful throughout his career.
“Next year he will be competing in the
Olympic games for sure in 2012,” Glance said. “He’s just grown so fast. He very
seldom loses races; he very seldom loses his focus. I feel very confident that
he will not only compete in the games, but he will compete for a medal.”
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, April
22, 2011 - The Grenada
Football Association (GFA) intends to transform its flagship tournament into a
Professional League by 2016.
President of the GFA Cheney Joseph disclosed that, among plans to
revamp the structure of football in Grenada, a football company would be
established to handle exclusively the Premier League, independent of the
General Secretariat.
He said that, in the interim, a competition desk will be set up in the
Secretariat which will handle all matters relating to the Premier League.
The GFA has already announced increased prize monies for the 2011/12
season including a championship purse of $50,000.
The 2010/11 season was abandoned on a decision taken by the General
Council and the top three teams in the Premier League will receive 50 percent
of the prize monies for that season. Paradise will receive $6,000; Hurricane
$4,000; and Fontenoy $3,000. The other seven teams in the Premier League will
share the remaining $13,000 equally, as expense reimbursement.
The winners of last year’s Conference will each receive $1,000 and all
other teams in the Conference will receive a reimbursement of $250.
Eleven teams will contest the First Division and 14 teams in the
Second Division in the 2011/12 season. Women’s and Youth competitions will also
be staged this season.
As part of the GFA’s development programme, a Reserved League will be
introduce on the 2012/13 season focusing mainly on youth teams from each
affiliate.
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, April
22, 2011 – Premier League
teams of the Grenada Football Association (GFA) will be playing for increased
prize monies when the 2011/12 season kicks-off on May 15.
The GFA on Friday announced that the champion team in the premier league
will receive $50,000, with $20,000 and $10,000 for the second and third placed
finishers respectively.
The GFA will also provide other incentives in the premier league including
best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, striker and player of the year.
The increased prize monies are expected to revive interest in the 10-team
premier league. Previously, the winning team would receive $12,000, with $8,000
and $6,000 for second and third respectively.
The season opens with a double-header at the National Stadium which
will be preceded by an opening ceremony to be attended by Governor General His
Excellency Sir Carlyle Glean, who is also patron of the GFA; Sports Minister
Patrick Simmons and officials of the GFA.
GFA Director Peter Blair, who also heads the competition committee,
said that premier league games will be played on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
and only in enclosed venues.
“We want to ensure that all games are completed within the stipulated
time as well as ensure that patrons are satisfied with the improved levels of
administration of the sport,” he said.
Blair said that the GFA’s website (www.gfa.gd)
will be the main source of information for fixtures and results and that some
of the games will be broadcast live on radio and the website.
ATLANTA, GA, April 19, 2011 - When
Colleen Felix came to the United States from St. Andrews, Grenada, three years
ago she had no idea what to expect.
The
junior had earned a track and field scholarship to South Plains Community
College in Levelland, Texas, and it didn’t take her long to make a mark in
junior college track and field competition.
But
Felix proved to make the right move in heading to the United States to pursue
her track and field career.
In
2010, she won two NJCAA individual national titles — one in the javelin and one
in the triple jump — and was named the 2010 NJCAA Track & Field Athlete of
the Year.
The
transition wasn’t the easiest, but Felix has finally found her stride.
“I
didn’t know anyone,” Felix said. “I didn’t really have a choice of where I went
to school. It was exciting and it turned out to be a lot of fun and I still
have a lot of great friends there.”
Now,
after transferring to Georgia this year, Felix has become a weapon for the Lady
Bulldogs’ track and field squad. During the indoor season, Felix won the triple
jump at the SEC Championships with a distance of 44 feet, 3 ½ inches, which
made her second in the Lady Bulldog record book.
“Colleen
has been a pleasure to work with,” jumping coach Petros Kyprianou said. “The
way her body is coordinated makes it easy for her to adapt to different
techniques. We were fortunate that she decided to come to Georgia, and she has
done great thus far.”
At
the Spec Towns Invitational in Athens, Felix recorded the longest outdoor
triple jump in the NCAA this year by jumping 44 feet, 6 ¾ inches and won the
javelin throw with a distance of 153 feet, 10 inches.
“This
year has been very different from Texas,” Felix said. “You don’t lift weights
as much, but you do what is necessary to succeed.”
Felix,
who is one of seven children, has returned home only once -— the last time
being nearly two years ago. She said the training opportunities in the United
States mainly fueled her decision to leave Grenada. And the 2012 Olympics in
London is lingering on the horizon.
“Georgia
is a great school with great academics,” Felix said. “I hope to go pro and
continue to jump and throw well. I would love to make it to London in 2012. I
don’t know what I will be able to do, I just have to keep working. I miss my
family and friends, but I know that this will make me better.”
Although
she misses her family and it isn’t always easy being in a far away country away
from the comforts of home, Felix, a speech communications major, said she wants
to serve as an example of perseverance and hard work for young athletes from
her native country to emulate.
“You
have to motivate yourself,” Felix said. “I want to help others out and inspire
aspiring athletes. I love what I do and I would love to become a great example
to others because of it.”
I’ve never had a knack for
relaxing. A lifelong advocate of advance planning, I’m the kind of person who
makes to-do lists even when I don’t actually have anything to do. (Afternoon
nap – check.)
So when I announced that I was
moving to Grenada, a tiny tri-island nation in the West Indies, those familiar
with Caribbean culture warned me to prepare for a different pace of life.
Knowing that I’m an avid cyclist, one person compared the move to trading in a
slick road bike for a 10-speed with a flat tire and two passengers.
In spite of such
warnings, I looked forward to trying life in the slow lane. Two years in a
demanding graduate program in community planning – yes, I am a planner by
profession too – had exhausted my mental and physical resources, leaving me
tired and worn out at the ripe old age of 27. I needed either a change of pace
or early retirement, and the fact that I hadn’t yet had a career to retire from
ruled out the latter.
Having just returned from a
six-month work contract in Grenada, I am happy to report that my expectation of
a more peaceful existence has been fully satisfied. I jokingly describe Grenada
as not the land that time forgot, but the land that forgot time.
Have a dentist appointment at
10:30 a.m.? Better take your lunch. Whether it’s the tropical climate or the
hilly terrain, just about everything moves slower there. The one exception is
the drivers: Something about getting behind a wheel awakens Grenadians’ inner
speed demon.
Despite my occasional annoyance
with people living in their own private time zone, I adjusted well. It’s hard
to stay mad when everyone else is so chilled out. Besides, the presence of one
uptight Canadian was unlikely to set off a nationwide epidemic of punctuality.
I recently read a study
claiming that people in northern climates focus more on the future, while those
in tropical nations tend to be present-oriented. One could idealize this as a
Buddha-like commitment to living in the moment or chalk it up to the absence of
distinct seasons to mark the passage of time. Personally, I suspect that these
findings hinge on a certain laxity in the use of the present tense.
When Canadians say now, they
generally mean within the next five minutes. When Grenadians say now, they mean
some time today or possibly tomorrow. When they say, “Just now,” they can mean
anywhere between immediately and within the next hour.
Although Grenada is an
English-speaking country, I learned a few new terms while living there. The
first and most important of these is liming. I’ve asked many people to describe
exactly what liming is and I always get a different response. As far as I can
tell, the best approximate definition of liming is the art of doing nothing.
It can be used as a verb (“I
was liming with Jones last night”) or a noun (“We had a lime on the beach”).
Beyond that, there is no consensus.
One acquaintance insisted that
liming is not “hanging out” in the North American sense since hanging out is
usually planned, whereas limes happen spontaneously. Another person thought
that limes could be planned and gave the example of the drink he and I intended
to have but kept putting off (the fictitious lime, you might say). A third
described liming as a Zen-like state in which you are not even thinking about
how you are doing nothing.
While one usually limes with
friends, you can also lime alone. The only rule is that you have to be relaxed,
and you can’t put a time limit on it.
Caribbean limes are typically
stationary events. Stroll down any street in Grenada around noon and you’ll
find people liming in the shade, often with a cold beverage in hand. No matter
where you are, I promise you that these people are all thinking one thing: Why
is that crazy tourist walking around in the hot sun? Grenadians, you see, have
strong survival instincts and reserve walking for the wee hours or the early
dusk.
Most tourists, it seems, lack
this basic genetic programming. My own propensity for lunchtime strolls became
a running joke (a walking joke?) among my colleagues. I consider the transition
from cyclist to pedestrian a step in the right direction, however, as walking
greatly increases the odds of running into friends and having a lime. Running
into people on my bike has never led to such pleasant outcomes.
After months of observation and
experimentation, I finally figured out why liming is so important to the good
life. It’s not actually about doing nothing. It’s about spending time with people
for the sake of being with them, and not because you’re going rock climbing or
shopping or camping.
Grenadian limes often involve
cooking and eating together. A classic Sunday lime is a cookout on the beach
lasting from midday to long after the sun has gone down. It’s no accident that
the national dish, oil down, a thick stew of salted fish or meat, breadfruit,
dumplings, callaloo and root vegetables, takes many hands and several hours to
prepare.
Liming has taught me about
relationships – specifically, why I’ve struggled in the past few years to
maintain them. I planned so much and kept so busy that I never stuck around
long enough to let things develop. Grenadians know that friendships are like oil
down – they require an indefinite amount of time.
After all, who’s rushing? No
one. Well, not unless they’re driving a car.
Ireland's Eddie Jordanwas back on the podium last night but it was for exploits
on water rather than tarmac as the skipper of Lush, his Oyster 655 sailing yacht writes Louay Habib. The BBC's F1 analyst finished the Oyster regatta in
Grenada by winning the 'Windboats Anniversary Trophy'. The trophy was presented
to Eddie and Marie Jordan by the Hon Peter David, Grenada's Minister of
Tourism. (Scroll down for photos below).
Royal Cork's
Stephen and Aileen Hyde's Oyster 56, A Lady, just missed out on a podium finish
having just returned to the Caribbean following their 15 month
circumnavigation.
Stephen & Aileen Hyde who joined the regatta having just returned to the Caribbean following their 15 month circumnavigation
The happy smiling faces
dockside at Port Louis were testament to a truly memorable Oyster Regatta on
the magical island of Grenada. However there was an element of tension in the
air, as Pantaenius Race Day was the last race to be sailed and a dramatic
conclusion was to follow. The race area south west of Grenada was sublime,
sunshine and crystal clear water with a warm breeze, which developed during the
day, to a steady 12 knots.
Jonathan and Jane Mould's
Oyster 72, Koluka continued their domination of Class One with their fourth
victory, a clean sweep. An impressive performance but the couple did not come
to Grenada just to compete; Jonathan and Jane were accompanied by their
extended family, both daughters, husbands and grandchildren. "To be honest
with you, the racing has been the most relaxing part. With three grandchildren
all two or younger, it is a busy time ashore. My wife Jane has done most of the
baby-sitting while I have gone sailing. It has been a lovely experience, it is
always nice to do well but to be in such a wonderful place with my family that
is something to savour for years to come."
The Windboats Anniversary Trophy – presented to Eddie and Marie Jordan by the Hon Peter David, Minister of Tourism
Eddie Jordan Racing his Oyster 655, Lush
Chris and Susan Shea's
Oyster 72, Magarathea was a gallant second, who scored consistently through the
regatta. Eddie Jordan on board Oyster 655, Lush finished the regatta in style
with their best result of the week, a close second to the overall winners
Koluka.
Alan and Sue Brook's Oyster
56, Sulana were clear leaders this morning but a dramatic event on the
racecourse nearly cost them victory. A coming together with John McTigue's Blue
Dreams meant a 20 percent penalty, resulting in a 10th place for Sulana for the
final race. However, their string of wins prior to the last race meant that
Sulana held on to the top spot to win Class Two.
Alan Brook commented:
"We have been in Grenada for six weeks now and I can safely say it is an
excellent place for many reasons and a very fitting venue for Oyster yachts and
their owners, I have an excellent crew on Sulana who all worked well together
to contribute to our success but I think that we can all leave Grenada as
winners, it has been an excellent event."
Second in Class Two was Scott
Bickford's American Oyster 56, Contingency. David Fass' Oyster 56, A Sulana was
third by just a single point. Meaning that Ian Galbraith's Scottish Oyster 53,
Jigsaw and Stephen and Aileen Hyde's Irish Oyster 56, A Lady, just missed out
on a podium finish.
Stephen and Aileen Hyde left
Crosshaven, in Southern Ireland in the summer of 2009 and haven't been back
since. After cruising their Oyster 56 down to Las Palmas, they crossed the
Atlantic and continued west with the World ARC fleet. Stephen has written
fascinating account of their 30,000-mile circumnavigation, which is being
published in Oyster News.
'Without doubt, the most
amazing place we have visited was the San Blas Islands," commented
Stephen. "The archipelago is composed of approximately 200 islands off the
coast of Panama. Beautiful beaches free from crocodiles and mosquitoes and
brilliant diving in the reefs, crystal clear waters with an amazing variety of
wildlife, even black tipped Reef Sharks, which would often swim with us. When I
suggested to my wife that we should sail around the world, she said absolutely
nothing – No comment. However with just a few days to go until the start, she
told me she was coming and was going to sail every mile. It has been a
fantastic adventure."
On the final night of the
Oyster Regatta Grenada, the prize giving party was held at Port Louis Marina.
The new facility has been a splendid setting for the Oyster fleet and a fitting
venue for the closing ceremony and party. Over 230 guests attended the evening
with Grenadian Minister of Tourism, Hon. Peter David, as Guest of Honour.
"Sailing is very important to Grenada, it is deeply rooted in our culture
and I speak for the Prime Minister and all Grenadians, which we were delighted
to welcome all of the Oyster yachts to our island and hope that you all return
soon." Commented Peter David
After the prize giving, a
gourmet four-course meal was served, it was a very happy occasion with crews
toasting each other and recalling memorable moments during a fantastic week. A
brilliant firework display over the marina capped off a truly wonderful
regatta. The Oyster Regatta in Grenada had been a roaring success. Probably one
of the main reasons for that is the warmth and friendship of the people of
Grenada, something that the Oyster family appreciates a great deal.
