Fraser Pryce deserves place in annals of track and field, says Holness
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness says based on the stellar performance of Olympian, Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, she “reserves and deserves a place in the annals of track and field”.
Addressing the unveiling ceremony for the statue of the sprinter, affectionately known as the ‘Pocket Rocket’, at Statue Park, National Stadium, in Kingston yesterday, the prime minister noted that “Shelly has achieved so much winning a total of six Olympic medals, including two gold medals and nine world championship medals, including an impressive seven gold medals.
She truly epitomises the Jamaican term ‘likkle but tallawah’”.
Holness said the achievement of world class athletes like Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, creative artistes, world renowned scholars and scientists “is primarily what accounts for Brand Jamaica”.
The prime minister informed that next year, statues of other Olympians, such as Veronica Campbell-Brown and Asafa Powell will be added to the National Stadium’s Statue Park.
In her remarks, Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Olivia Grange, said the unveiling of Fraser Pryce’s statue is being done to coincide with National Heritage Week, which runs from October 8 to 15 and is “in honour of (Jamaica’s) glorious heritage in sports”.
Grange said Fraser Pryce brings to focus, “What has been achieved in national output by women of substance and women who are never daunted by circumstances of their beginnings, but understand that through faith in God and self, they could outdo themselves and shine”.
“Shelly Ann’s story is one of the many narratives of the Jamaican woman, who remains steadfast in the belief in her inherent abilities, daring to step out and rise above the fray, both here and abroad,” the minister said.
Grange applauded Fraser Pryce for becoming a “model for girls and young women across Jamaica” and hailed Sculptor, Basil Watson, for his work in capturing one of the athete’s moments.
Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) President, Dr Warren Blake, said the tribute to Fraser Pryce and the ones for athletes to come are fitting, as they have been immortalised for others to see.
In her response, Fraser Pryce expressed gratitude to the Government for hosting the event and unveiling the statue in her honour.
Several other Government Ministers and dignitaries were in attendance as well as the family, friends and well-wishers of Fraser Pryce.
