Dennie Quill, Contributor

Last year this time, I wrote about the fiasco at the rain-affected University of the West Indies (UWI) graduation on the Mona campus. The Assembly Hall bursting at the seams to accom-modate graduates and their guests, could not cope so scores of invitees were herded into untidy classrooms to watch the ceremony on closed-circuit television.

An embarrassed Chancellor Sir George Alleyne vowed back then that such chaos would never ever attend a UWI graduation again. But what do we find in 2006? The graduation has been moved to the National Indoor Sports Centre, a near riot occurred as angry relatives were left outside. The tumult was great and persons did not hold back in venting frustration and anger to the media.

As I understand it, there were two ceremonies. On Friday evening, the ceremony was billed for 800 graduates and although the audience was packed in tightly, seating appeared to have been adequate. On Saturday evening, however, with an estimated 2,000 graduates scheduled to be presented, and since each graduate received four invitations, how were the guests to be accom-modated at that same venue? Please do the math. The centre reportedly seats 7,000.

The UWI explained that it issued 5,325 tickets and that guests came and were seated even though they were not holding invitations. Now, whose fault is that? This is supposedly the country's premier academic institution and it seems incapable of successfully planning a graduation ceremony. I hope the powers that be are now doing a post-mortem of the 2006 graduation exercise and that for 2007 they will hire professionals to execute the programme. Maybe there is a need to have three ceremonies instead of two.

I would like to suggest that the Jamaica Defence Force has many logistic experts so the UWI won't have to look very far for the requisite expertise. A graduation is supposed to be a joyful celebration of achieve-ment and ought not to be a grand shoving match.

Levels of incompetence

It is hard to accept the increasing levels of incompetence in Jamaican life, but the evidence is everywhere, even in the most unlikely places. But this week Jamaicans had plenty to smile about and saw a glimmer of light in Asafa Powell and, by extension, the University of Technology (UTech). For Asafa Powell to have captured the Male Athlete of the Year award and Sherone Simpson to be in contention for the Female Athlete of the Year award are significant achievements for our country. And both are trained at University of Technology.

Congratulations to Asafa for not only has he gained enormous prestige, his bank account has been fattened to the envy of many. There aren't sufficient words to describe Asafa's achieve-ment, but I don't hear many people congratulating coach Stephen Francis and the faculty at UTech for showing the world that a small university with limited facilities can produce world-class athletes.

I have often heard spectators criticise local athletes for lacking the mental edge necessary to compete at the highest level. And there is a persistent feeling that only in America can athletes acquire the grit they need to be world-beaters. Well, hasn't coach Francis proven otherwise? Apparently, he has been able to build a partnership with his athletes so he is not only training an individual. He is also building character.

Asafa is driven. He is a goal-oriented person. After every race, he is thinking of the next outing and how he can improve on his performance. Goals give direction. By establishing goals we increase efficiency, effort and the quality of our performance. There are scores of young athletes who dream to one day perform at the level of an Asafa Powell. UTech is certainly well placed to help them achieve these hopes and aspirations. I urge well-thinking Jamaicans with deep resources to invest in the sports programme at UTech, it is a worthwhile investment.

Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com.