By Curtis Morton
Exactly one week and one day after the grand historic Gulf Insurance interprimary championship was held at the prestigious Nevis Athletic stadium aka the MONDO track a press release was received from the Ministry of Education and Library services, on Thursday 5th April.
The press release sought to clarify the original results that were given on the night of the exciting event held on March 28th which saw the Charlestown Primary School (CPS) and the Joycelyn Liburd Primary School (JLPS), officially declared joint champions in a historic tie.
According to the release however, following the receipt of an official letter of protest the Ministry engaged in a comprehensive review of the entire meet.
A committee was put in place to execute the review, comprising of Mr. Lester Blackett, Meet Director, Mr. Garfield Virgo, Senior Meet Photo Finish Operator, Mr. Geran Browne, Meet Management Official and Mr. Warren Moving, Meet Judge.
The committee carefully looked back at each event from event number 1 to event number 54 which excluded the exhibition events.
“The review team found that in Event # 34, Boys 9-10 800 meter Class 111 and 1V, a Charlestown Primary School athlete was not listed as having participated in the race.
However, on careful examination, the review team did find that the Charlestown Primary School athlete was indeed in that race and was the winner by a noticeable margin.
The necessary correction was made to the results of that race and the points awarded were corrected to reflect the actual outcome.”
It was further noted that the disqualifications dished out on meet day were not changed.
Having completed the review and having made the relevant adjustments to the points table the committee determined that the following is the corrected and official points table:
Charlestown Primary – 185-1st
Joycelyn Liburd Primary – 180 -2nd
St. Thomas’ Primary 168-3rd
Elizabeth Pemberton Primary – 126-4th
Ivor Walters Primary – 93-5th
Maude Cross Preparatory – 61-6th
Violet Jeffers Nicholls Primary – 42-7th
St. James Primary – 9.-8th
Based on the review the changes made to the original point standings were: Charlestown Primary from 181 to 185; Joycelyn Liburd Primary from 181 to 180; Elizabeth Pemberton Primary from 128 to 126; Ivor Walters Primary from 94 to 93; Maude Cross Preparatory from 62 to 61 and VOJN from 41 to 42
Following the release of the updated information, a brief presentation ceremony of the relevant trophies was held at the Department of Education on Thursday 5th April and the appropriate trophies were officially handed over by Permanent Secretary of Education, Mr. Kevin Barrett and Education officer, Mrs. Terez Dore, to Headmistress of the Charlestown Primary School, Miss Latoya Jeffers and Headmistress of the Joycelyn Liburd Primary school, Miss Barbara Hendrickson, respectively.
Charlestown Primary is therefore the sole winner of the 2018 Gulf Insurance Interprimary Schools athletic meet.