SSP Diaries | Shaping the future 2026 Boys’ and Girls’ athletic championships

Congratulations to the organizers, sponsors, athletes and the vast array of supporters who made this recent event a huge success. Heartiest congratulations to champions, Jamaica College and Edwin Allen High School who emerged victorious in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively. Watching the championships from the comfort of my home, I have easily concluded that the event was the best organized over the years and can only be improved upon going forward.

The outside broadcast was good, inclusive of the commentary. Viewers were able to see the competition in real time and the replays made us feel a part of the spectacle in every respect. Many suspected decisions by the officials were made clear through this avenue and in conjunction with explanations provided by the commentary. Truly a learning experience for many. Notwithstanding, the championships reaffirmed the fact that track and field athletic potential is vast in Jamaica and more so, it is in the hands of capable persons in the form of our qualified coaching staffs and the production machinery behind that, the G C Foster College.

Although we have come a far way we cannot afford to relax the effort. This could destroy the brand. As was pointed out over the five days of the competition many foreign coaches were in attendance, hungry to contract our potential to their institutions overseas. There were also the local coaches with the same thing in mind for their institutions. The technical glitches surrounding the starters gun did detract from the otherwise flawless delivery of the programme. This issue should not be treated lightly, and the relevant authorities must move swiftly to obtain a new and appropriate mechanism for future events. We cannot afford to have poor equipment as this threatens the performance and future livelihood of our athletes. We must not forget that these championships have acquired global status and are a critical component of the Jamaica brand. Let us all commit to the achievement and maintenance of high standards.

THE RABBIT HOLE

The US/Israeli versus Iran conflict seems to have drawn our Caribbean leaders into a real spiral of confusion. As is emerging daily, the lack of a clear US/Israeli strategy for prosecuting offensive actions against Iran is not being displayed or enunciated. It is admittedly clear that the conflict has been going on for much longer than was expected and by virtue of that is costing the US far more than planned.

In supporting the US Administration, whether in the Caribbean or otherwise, we are only now discovering the magnitude of the problems that will descend upon us shortly when oil prices and its derivative products begin to increase, sending the cost of goods spiraling out of control. These are concerns for all developing states, but it is the developed world that seems to have thought things out before joining hands with the US and Israel. This explains why many EU countries, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Russia, China, for example, are against this war and why the US and Israel struggle for global support.

The question arises, as increased doubt is cast upon the reason for hostilities against Iran, how much longer will our leaders remain in support of such an administration? Clearly, we are being drawn down the proverbial ‘rabbit hole’ the farther down we go it will be more difficult to recover. The time to reassess our position is now and not later. Our people are worthy of the best leadership possible, and many are not convinced that this is evident right now. The time to finally stand on our own two feet is now.

POST-MELISSA CLEANUP

I read an article in the media recently which indicated that there are still a few areas in the West, post-Hurricane Melissa, where downed power and telephone cables and cable service paraphernalia are obstacles to pedestrian and vehicular traffic. There are also some with poles leaning at precarious angles. People have difficulty navigating such locations as they have doubts concerning safety. All these combined serves to delay the healing process that many of our people have been enduring since the October 2025 catastrophe. Expeditious clearance of debris goes a far way in getting people to readjust and return to normality, the present sights only serve to make unpleasant memories linger.

GHANA UN RESOLUTION

Recently the UN General Assembly was moved to adopt a resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as the ‘gravest crime against humanity.’ This resolution was proposed by Ghana. It called for reparations and reparatory justice for victims of this horrible act and aims to ensure it is recognized for what it is. It demands accountability, relates to the 400 plus years of forced migration of our ancestors and asks that the world recognizes the significance of the atrocity in its impact upon people of African heritage. 123 countries supported, 52 abstained, and the US, Israel and Argentina voted against, which is not surprising.

This is one of the more positive moves coming out of Africa in recent times and we should remember the efforts of certain nations to retrieve their stolen artifacts from developed countries that they have been enriching for decades. We must also recall the efforts of others within the Caribbean such as Professors Hilary Beckles and Verene Shepherd that have been championing the cry for reparations for decades. The struggle must not stop but become more collective and unified going forward. Slavery is really the greatest sin committed by mankind; its psychological impact is a burden borne by all the parties involved but more so the black man and it will take centuries to be put right.

SSP Diaries