News broke on July 14 that five Jamaican athletes had failed drug tests at the national championships in June, setting off one of the biggest drug scandals ever faced by Jamaican athletes and authorities. In addition to [Smikle], global stars, former 100-metre world record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic 100-metre silver medalist She rone Simpson, as well as Allison Randall and 19-year-old Damar Robinson also failed drug tests. The news broke one month after it was announced that Veronica Campbell Brown, another global star and two-time Olympic 200-metre champion, had failed a drug test after competing at the Jamaica International Invitational in May.
"It is with pride and humility that I accept the Prime Minister's Award for Service to Jamaican Nationals abroad. I am very proud of my Jamaican heritage and over the past thirty years I have worked to maintain ties at home and abroad. My goal was always to support and help to foster cultural, educational and economic stability for Jamaican Nationals within the Greater Hartford area. I have a great sense of pride and fulfillment as I see first, second and third generations of Jamaicans excel educationally and economically. As one of the founding members of NAJASO, the National Organization of Jamaicans and Supportive Organizations, I have reached out on the national level to bring Jamaicans together to support Jamaica and to maintain their Jamaican pride and heritage."
Former Herbert Morrison Technical star also sprinted his way into the history books, becoming the first athlete to win back-to-back 100m titles at the Championships.
"While the work of the Jamaican Diaspora is being praised for its success in keeping the linkage with Jamaica very strong, I submit that a look at the experience of other Diasporas will provide us with valuable lessons of how we can even more effectively utilise the resources available to us to enhance both the Diaspora as well as our homeland."
Consul General of Jamaica to New York, Hon. Herman G. LaMont, has called on Jamaicans in the Diaspora to remember the land of their birth at this time. Addressing members of the Clergy Coalition at a recent meeting at the offices of the Consulate General of Jamaica in Manhattan, CG LaMont said that he was looking forward to this year's Jamaica Diaspora Day of Prayer & Fasting, on Thursday, August 1. 'We firmly and unabashedly believe that prayer changes things and avails much. Please join us in prayer for Jamaica, Land we love. This call and challenge goes out to every denomination, Jamaicans in every walk of life, and all who hold the affairs of Jamaica near and dear to their hearts," noted Rev. Neilson, New Life Christian Church of Philadelphia, PA.
Rupert Green and Judith Dinnal on Sunday, January 5 won the respective male and female Run sections of inaugural LIME Foundation 6K Walk/Run held in Waterford in Portmore, St Catherine. Green, who ran unattached, won in 19:00.82 minutes over Kemar Leslie, 19:25.09, and Robin Rowe, 20:09.42, both of Mavis Bank Track Club. Among the women, Dinnal was a comfortable winner in 25:37.43, over Jilliane Lewis, 28:38.89, of We Got The Runs, and Floret Kelly of Double Marchers, who was third in 30:49.38.
The service for Donna Andrea Messado, sociologist of New York and resident of Hope Pastures, St. Andrew, was held on Saturday, October 15 at St. Stephen's United Church in Cross Roads, St. Andrew, Jamaica. The funeral for the late 'One Order' gang strongman Omar 'Tickerus' Campbell was held on Sunday, November 6, at the Lighthouse Assembly in Ellerslie Pen, St. Catherine.
"I just could not find the money to go to Boston at short notice, plus I don't believe that to represent Jamaica, I should have had to travel to Boston at my expense, " [Dusard] reiterated. "We appointed a coach who had a dojo in Boston. We took up this opportunity to train there to evaluate the guys. We already had four athletes representing Jamaica in Boston. Would it be fair for them to come to Jamaica to train?" "Yes, he would have to travel at his expense because we don't have that amount of funds," [Chris Chok] said, adding that Dusard had not trained with the JTF locally since 2011 and needed to be assessed.
Two-time Olympic 100 metres champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (second left), winning the women's Olympic Development 100 metres in 11 .47 seconds at the Queen's/Grace Jackson Invitational meet at the National Stadium Saturday, January 26. Two time Olympic 100-metre champion ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce displayed good early-season form to win the women's sprint event at the Queen's/Grace Jackson Invitational meet at the National Stadium on Saturday, January 26.
"I got a lot of offers from a number of North American colleges, but I chose UWI, Mona because I don't really plan on leaving Jamaica. I was supposed to leave but decided to stay. I have grown and developed my skills here and I think it is the best option for me," [Federick Dacres] said. Ten sports scholarships were also awarded to footballers, with former Wolmer's Boys' goalkeeper Amal Knight leading a contingent, which also includes Taniel McKenzie, Davian Montaque, Shamal Thomas, Mitch Wright, Jerondy Henry, Daryl Denny and females Samantha Watson, Alicia Richards and Trudi Ann Young. The UWI netball programme will also be strengthened with the acquisition of Terry Ann Jones and national Under-21 Sunshine Girl Antionette Stone. Basketballers Kedar Clarke and Damion Johnson will also take up sports scholarships, along with volleyballers Solene Walker and Wolmer's Girls standout Vanessa Jones.
