SOSVG hails stalwart contributors

Two persons, Marjorie Jackson and Terrence Davis, who have made sterling contributions to the development of Special Olympics St Vincent and the Grenadines (SOSVG), were recognized last Friday.{{more}}

The duo were presented with plaques during the opening ceremony of the 2014 National Games at the Victoria Park.

Jackson was among the persons, who in 1975, pioneered the start of the School for Children with Special Needs. She later became involved in Special Olympics and at one point headed the movement.

It was through Jackson’s tenacity and with the help of Peace Corps volunteers that St Vincent and the Grenadines attended its first Special Olympics World Games.

In accepting her award, Jackson said that she was thankful for the recognition, and wished the organization well.

For the other recipient, Terrence Davis, his journey has gone full circle.

Davis has moved from being a student at the School for Children with Special Needs, to being a teacher and from Special Olympics athlete to Special Olympics coach.

He got involved in Special Olympics in 1985, doing well at the local National Games, then went on to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines at the regional and international levels.

In 1993, Davis was voted the Most Outstanding athlete of the Caribbean Special Olympics, which afforded him the opportunity to go to Orlando, Florida, to speak at a Gala Dinner on “Why Special Olympics is important, and why companies like Florida Caribbean Cruise should support such a cause.”

Davis’ oratory pricked the hierarchy of Florida Caribbean Cruise, who immediately joined in supporting Special Olympics.

Later in 2005, Davis was called upon to represent Special Olympics Caribbean in Panama at the World Leadership Conference.

He has sat on the Caribbean Board of Special Olympics and is at present the athletes’ representative on the board of Special Olympics St Vincent and the Grenadines.

And, Davis will be the Caribbean athletes’ representative at a Special Olympics conference, to be held in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Davis has not let his physical deficiencies get the better of him, as he was awarded the best actor in the first ever Primary Schools’ Drama Festival in 1994 and placed third in the Junior Calypso competition in 1989.

On receiving the award last Friday, Davis was drawn to tears, as he said he was moved by the citation, and by the fact that he was not expecting such an honour.

Last year, SOSVG honoured Velma Jackson and Tyrone “Tweety” Spence. (RT)