By: Andrea Daley
New York, May 7, 2012 - The Penn Relays are behind us; hard to believe, especially from my vantage point. Months of planning by Team Jamaica Bickle, preparing for the entire contingents from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, seem to have whizzed by over the three days—just like that.
Days morphed into one as teams started arriving in Philadelphia on the Monday for the Thursday start of the relays. In the two team hotels, Wyndham Gardens and Ramada, an active vibrant bunch of pubescent and post-teen athletes, (a la UWI, Utech & G.C. Foster), all ready to compete, consort and socialize, kept the place abuzz. Socialize, you say? Yes of course. Did you think it was all about the competition? But that’s a whole other conversation. For almost a week the two team hotels were alive with the sights and sounds of athletes; a beautiful sight!
As cold and damp as Philly was, the warm Caribbean spirit enveloped Franklyn Field, particularly the Big ‘Bickle’ tent; the enthusiasm ramped up a few notches with the anticipated visit of Jamaica’s Prime Minister, The Most Honorable Portia Simpson Miller, O.N; M.P.
This year saw a number of new and exciting elements with the addition of two more Caribbean nations; Grenada & The Bahamas, joining Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent and The Grenadines, under the big ‘Bickle’ tent. It was fun meeting and interacting with the coaches, members of the teams and officials representing the various governments; the atmosphere of music, Caribbean food and people priceless.
The excitement reached a crescendo on Saturday when the prime minister visited the tent. It was a crush of photographers, and people all angling to see, to capture the historic moment, to touch, to engage the PM whose warmth personality and engaging spirit, are legendary.
The introduction of the KiDz HuB junior broadcasters from Jamaica, added a whole new dimension to the Bickle village. The bunch of smart, savvy pre-teens was on their first trip to the Penn Relays to broadcast live and package reports for various stations across the Caribbean and the US. They had some big ‘gets’ as they say in the business; the biggest of them all, Prime Minister of Jamaica, The Most Honorable Portia Simpson Miller. They interviewed Grace and LIME Executives, Chas Dorman of the Penn Communications office (a first by Caribbean media, I am told) and countless others; the two standouts of that team; Joshua Dillon and Inzingha McCarthy.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister of Tourism, Wykeham McNeill and Delano Franklyn, special advisor to the Prime Minister.
Also welcomed to the Bickle tent were newly appointed Consul General of Jamaica to New York, the Honorable Herman G. Lamont, Deputy Consul General, Sharon Burrell Green, Jamaica’s Honorary Consul for Pennsylvania, Dr Alston Meade; former Jamaica Consul General to New York, Dr. Basil Bryan and community relations officer, Jamaica Consulate NY, Christopher Castriota.
Counted among the dignitaries were representatives of various Caribbean countries: Messrs. Cecil McKie, Minister of Wellness and Sports, St Vincent & the Grenadines; Derrick James, Consul General of Grenada and Paul Johnson, Brazil’s honorary Consul General, Philadelphia.
Members of the business sector were also out in full force, especially on Saturday with several executives from Grace Foods, and Grace Kennedy Remittance Services in attendance as well as representatives from LIME, JAAA, ISSA, Tower Isle, UWI, UTECH, MVP, the Diaspora Board among others; a fitting collective for Jamaica 50, as we celebrated proudly, another year at Penn.
PHOTO CAPTION II – #45
The Grenada Team with (front row l-r) Irwine Clare, Sabrina HoSang, Derrick James, (CG-Grenada) Vincent HoSang & Blane Stoddart
Photo credit: Donovan Gopie
PHOTO CAPTION I-# 2784
Members of the T&T contingent pose for the cameras
Photo credit: Collin Reid
PHOTO CAPTION III – 0032
The STVG team with the country's Minister of Wellness & Sports Cecil McKie (3rd left)
Photo credit: Dennis Hinkson
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