‘It is our duty’

The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has continued to explore ways it can help student-athletes in western Jamaica recover and compete at their best levels, according to Ludlow Watts, treasurer of the organisation.

Watts and his team, which also included General Secretary Marie Tavares, Brian Smith and Trevor Campbell, met with some of the coaches and athletes who have seen their training curtailed by the passage of Hurricane Melissa last October.

The team visited Manning’s School last Friday and delivered care packages to athletes from the host school, Frome Technical, Petersfield High and Godfrey Stewart High.

“Our being here on the ground is significant. We could have sent down the packages by bus, but we decided to come and see the devastation and the hardships that these althetes are experiencing,” said Watts.

“These athletes and coaches now understand that we stand with them as they strive to develop in the sport.”

Watts said that talking with the sudents helped him to better understand their needs.

“The kids have been honest. Some of them have lost everything, including their uniforms, and we empathise with them. They expressed the fact that they may not be able to go to Champs (ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships) because they lack so much in terms of training and equipment,” said Watts.

“We have not made a definite commitment, but we are looking at specific areas where we can be of assistance to these schools in the west. We will be looking at areas in which we can assist. We will be providing some assistance to enable them to compete in athletic meets further on. We will also be looking at providing some amount of uniforms so that they will be able to attend school.”

Watts explained that the gift packages, which were provided with the assistance of their main sponsors, Puma, “is just a little symbol to say we know you are suffering and we are here for you”.

According to Watts, the JAAA has been quietly doing a lot to assist athletes in general.

“The association is mindful of the current situation, and we are actively looking at how we can help as many athletes to get back on their feet and compete. It is our duty,” he said.

This is the second such visit by the JAAA to western Jamaica in two weeks, as they were in Hanover a week before, delivering care package to athletes from three schools in that parish.