Gov’t Rolling Out Retention Strategy For Athletes

Shock and disappointment!

That’s how Sports Minister, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, is reacting to news that four of the country’s premier athletes in the field events have been lured away by Turkey.

Speaking in the sectoral debate on Tuesday afternoon, Minister Grange says she accepts that athletes are entitled to seek the best financial arrangements for themselves and their families.

But she says the government will not sit by and allow the cream of Jamaica’s athletic talent to be poached by other countries.

As such, she announced that her ministry will be implementing an athlete retention strategy.

More in this report from George Davis.

The nation is still coming to grips with news that Olympic Discus Champion Roje Stona, Olympic Shot Put Bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell, Olympic Long Jump Silver medallist Wayne Pinnock and Triple Jump star Jaydon Hibbert have all switched allegiance to Turkey.

At the heart of the decision to switch is the ability of the Turkish authorities to give the athletes the kind of financial support that would only be a pipe dream in Jamaica.

Still, the Minister of Sport says the government cannot just accept this fate.

She says plans are in place to establish an athlete retention strategy.

Babsy Grange says the government will not pretend as if the support for our athletes is at the requisite level.

She admits there are significant gaps.

Minister Grange says the decision by Hibbert, Stona, Pinnock and Campbell should serve as a wake up call to all sporting stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Minister Grange says the government will be providing land to the Rastafarian community in Albion, St. James.

The Minister says former Senator and prominent Rastafarian Advocate Barbara Hannah-Blake is coordinating the discussions.

Olivia Grange, Minister of Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.