MINISTER of Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange has joined those hailing the late special Olympian and long-time administrator and general secretary of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Sarah Newland-Martin, who died on Wednesday after a brief illness.

According to Grange, Jamaica has lost a woman who made an extraordinary contribution as an athlete and administrator.

“Sarah Newland-Martin was just incredible. She would not let the physical disability she was born with prevent her from becoming a top class swimmer and after being appointed its first woman general secretary, she maintained an impeccable record of administration at the ‘Y’ for the 36 years she spent there until her death,” said Grange as she pointed to Newland-Martin’s record of becoming the first woman with a disability to complete the ‘Across The Harbour’, two-and-half-mile swim in Kingston Harbour.

“In her athletic career that followed, Sarah represented Jamaica at the highest levels, winning numerous medals, including Paralympics Gold, and setting additional world and Pan American records.

“I was pleased to appoint Sarah to the board of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) on which she served from July 2019 to 2021 and to which she was reappointed in March 2021for a period of three years to 2024,” added Grange.

She said Newland-Martin, for all of her life, showed courage, self-confidence and determination that were phenomenal.

“She has provided us with the perfect example of what can be achieved by belief in self. An inspiration to many, especially to persons with disabilities.

“Sarah Newland-Martin also believed in service to others exemplified in no uncertain way by her long and dedicated stewardship at the YMCA,” declared Grange.

In the meantime, Opposition senator Dr Floyd Morris, a member of United Nations Committee on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Special Rapporteur on Disability, said he was deeply shocked and saddened at the passing of this outstanding Jamaican.

“Sarah Newland-Martin was a colossus and a trailblazer in the community of persons with disabilities. She was among a set of persons with disabilities who went on a path to change Jamaica for the better for persons with disabilities.

“She was a giant who stood on no legs and made the world know that persons with disabilities can make a meaningful contribution to society. When individuals told her that as a person without legs, she could not swim the Kingston Harbour, she defied the odds and became the first woman to swim the seven-mile stretch across the Kingston Harbour. I salute this absolutely fabulous Jamaican woman,” said Morris.

In his tribute Allan Marsh, chairman of the Kingston YMCA, said under the leadership of Newland-Martin the organisation developed into one of the foremost non-government organisations in Jamaica, positively transforming the lives of thousands of Jamaicans from all walks of life.

“She made an enormous contribution to the Kingston YMCA’s rich history of community service which is evident in various programmes including the Youth Development Programme (formerly the Street Corner Boys’ Programme), Leadership Development Training Programme (for youths 14-20 years), summer camp, sporting programmes including aquatics, martial arts, badminton and services to persons with disabilities,” said Marsh as he noted that Newland-Martin was a social worker and internationally acclaimed sportswoman.

“Mrs Newland–Martin lived a life of committed service dedicated to the youth, persons with disabilities, the Rotary movement, the Church, the YMCA movement in Kingston, Jamaica, the Caribbean, Latin America and worldwide. She was a nation builder and left an indelible mark on all who she came into contact with. She will be sorely missed and may her soul rest in peace. Our condolence goes out to her family and friends,” added Marsh.