Fri, Sept. 02, 2011

Editor: Caribbean people have a way of poking fun at persons from more remote communities. Every island has its own way of saying it, but A Trini would say, “Wey happen? Yo from Toco?”, and our own late kaiso bard/comedian, Professor, would often jokingly ask, “Yo from Gomea or what?” In Grenada, the comparative term is “Like yo come from Gouyave?”{{more}}

Well, the laugh is coming from the other side now, for it is Gouyave which is now laughing most loudly. Yes, Gouyave, a fishing village in north-west Grenada is now the toast of the world. A son of its soil, KIRANYI JAMES, who turned 19 only yesterday (September1), beat the top quarter milers in the World at the 2011 World Athletics Championships, currently taking place in Daegu, South Korea. In so doing, he has placed his rural community squarely on the world map and has made all Caribbean people the world over very proud indeed. HATS OFF TO HIM!

James’ spectacular victory was only the second of two gold medals to be won thus far by the Caribbean contingent at the Games. It helped to compensate for the huge disappointments of favourites Usain Bolt of Jamaica (100 metres) and the Cuban 110-metre hurdler Dayron Robles not being able to grab gold. Bolt’s false start exit from the Finals has been the ‘talk of the town’ so far, and Robles suffered the mortification of a disqualification after he had finished first. Even though Bolt’s young compatriot Yohan Blake ensured that Jamaica would rule the sprinting roost, it was still the Caribbean’s only gold, until James stepped on to the track for the 400-metre final.

For such a young athlete from a tiny Caribbean country to beat the best of the world in one of the top events is a most remarkable feat. What will be of further inspiration to young Grenadian athletes is that his compatriot Rondell Batholomew also made the final of the same event and ended as the sixth leading 400-metre runner at the World championships. So-called small islanders from other islands have been excelling as well. The veteran Kim Collins from St. Kitts/Nevis used his vast experience to cop a bronze in the Men’s 100 metres, and Trinidad and Tobago’s lone medal so far has been won by sprinter Kelly-Ann Baptiste. Kelly-Ann is from Tobago.

So maybe those who used to laugh at “small island” and “country people” have another laugh coming.

Old people say that “WHO LAUGH LAST LAUGH BEST”.

Renwick Rose