Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Weekend major conference and honouring of sporting heroes


By Lincoln Depradine

St. George’s, January 17, 2012 – Dozens of journalists from regional and international media are expected in Grenada this weekend for an important trade and business meeting involving representatives from the United Kingdom and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The journalists will be here primarily to cover the 7th UK-Caribbean Forum. However, their visit coincides with the honouring of track star, Kirani James, and the hosting of the 2011 National Sports Award at the Grenada Trade Centre in Morne Rouge, St. George’s.

The UK-Caribbean Forum is held every two years for the purpose of what has been described as “establishing priority areas for cooperation, discussing key areas of concern and proposing mechanisms to facilitate greater collaboration’’ between Britain and CARICOM nations.

The Grenada get-together, to be hosted by Foreign Minister Karl Hood, will be held over three, starting Friday, January 20, at the Grenadian By Rex Resort.

Minister Hood will be joined by his foreign affairs counterparts from other Caribbean countries; CARICOM Secretary General, Irwin LaRoque; and a UK delegation headed by Foreign Secretary, Hon. William Hague.

“The UK’s relationship with the Caribbean should be a broad-based partnership that involves business, civil society and ordinary people,’’ Mr. Hague said. “That is why I am so pleased that we are starting the Forum with a meeting of UK and Caribbean companies.’’

The Forum closes Sunday afternoon with a 12-overs’ cricket match at the SSU Grounds at Point Saline. A team of UK ministers and officials will compete against a CARICOM squad led by Foreign Minister Hood.

For the visiting journalists, their presence is also an opportunity to cover Saturday afternoon’s event at which Lagoon Road will be renamed after James, the current World 400 meter champion.

Saturday’s unveiling of the Kirani James Boulevard, as well as a roundabout to be named after athletic coach and former 400 meter indoor record holder, Alleyne Francique, will be attended by government officials and representatives of the Grenada Olympic Committee.

On Saturday evening, 19-year-old James will be attending the National Sports Awards where he is one of the nominees for Grenada’s Male Athletes of the Year.

James and Janelle Redhead, a women’s 200 meter semifinalist at the 2011 World Championships in South Korea, are among 16 male and female athletes vying for the top sportsman and sportswoman awards.

The keynote speaker at the awards’ ceremony is Trinidad Olympic medalist, Ato Boldon.

Another Trinidadian who will be in Grenada to deliver an address is journalist, Tony Fraser. He is the featured speaker at Sunday’s 6th annual awards’ ceremony of the Media Workers Association of Grenada (MWAG) at the Trade Centre.

“We are very excited that Tony has agreed to come and speak at the awards,” said MWAG president Rawle Titus.

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