PM Says Government will Continue to Invest in Sport
By: , September 5, 2016The Key Point:
Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second right), presents the Gold Medal of the City of Kingston to Jamaican footballer and captain of Leicester City Football Club, Westley ‘Wes’ Morgan (second left), at ceremony in his honour at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston, on September 4. Sharing in the occasion (from left) are Deputy Mayor, Councillor Andrew Swaby; Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Derrick Smith; Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange; and President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell.The Facts
- The Prime Minister, who was speaking at a ceremony to honour Reggae Boyz footballer and Leicester City captain, Westley ‘Wes’ Morgan, in Kingston on September 4, noted that football has kept Mr. Morgan and many other young Jamaicans from a wayward life.
- The Prime Minister, in recognising Mr. Morgan’s achievement in aiding Leicester City’s victory in the 2015/2016 English Premier League (EPL), said it is important to honour the successes of members of the diaspora locally.
The Full Story
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government will continue its investment in sport because of its developmental and transformative effect on the lives of young people.
The Prime Minister, who was speaking at a ceremony to honour Reggae Boyz footballer and Leicester City captain, Westley ‘Wes’ Morgan, in Kingston on September 4, noted that football has kept Mr. Morgan and many other young Jamaicans from a wayward life.
“It creates an avenue for the expression and the use of talent for our young people,” Mr. Holness said.
For this reason, Mr. Holness said the Government will create the environment in which “the talent pool can fulfil and self-actualise”.
The Prime Minister, in recognising Mr. Morgan’s achievement in aiding Leicester City’s victory in the 2015/2016 English Premier League (EPL), said it is important to honour the successes of members of the diaspora locally.
He urged the Leicester City captain to give back to the youth locally as well as to his own community of Nottingham, in England, to ensure that “other youngsters can stay on the straight and narrow”.
Meanwhile, Minister with portfolio responsibility for sports, Hon. Olivia Grange, said the Government, through the Sport Development Foundation (SDF), will continue to provide its monthly allocations to support the national football programme.
Already, Ms. Grange noted that $3.5 million has been allocated to the programme. She also affirmed Government’s support for the women’s football league with an injection of approximately $9 million.
For his part, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President, Captain Horace Burrell, expressed gratitude to the Government, through the SDF, for supporting sports and football in general.
He thanked Minister Grange for hosting the event and for celebrating Mr. Morgan’s achievements.
In his reply, Mr. Morgan said he appreciated the recognition by the Government and the JFF, and hopes that his achievements will serve as an inspiration to young people to achieve their dreams.
Mr. Morgan was presented with the Gold Medal of the City of Kingston by Deputy Mayor, Councillor Andrew Swaby.