Grenada PM welcomes calls for regional recognition of Kirani James

Kirani James

Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas is welcoming calls by his counterparts for greater regional recognition of World and Olympic  400 meters champion, Kirani James.

James became the first person from Grenada and the OECS to win an Olympic gold medal at the ongoing London games.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines praised Kirani for his performance while Antigua’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer called on LIAT to name an aircraft in honour of the Olympic Gold medalist.

Thomas said the expressions and sentiments of solidarity and support expressed by the leaders and people of the OECS shows that the feat achieved by Kirani is a celebration of the dreams and aspirations of the people of the OECS subregion.

James, 19, won the race in 43.94 seconds, making him the first man outside the United States to break the 44-second barrier.

Regional airline LIAT has announced it will be honoring Kirani with a fitting tribute “very shortly.”

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33 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    August 13, 2012

    Congratulations Kerani, you have made us all proud. Shows that we can do anything our minds can conceive.

  2. i miss my baby
    August 13, 2012

    A very dedicated and wonderful athlete, he is truly inspirational i loved watching him run, he trained very hard this season. Hearts of to him wish him sucess in his future endavours. LETS GO GRENADA- DOMINICA WILL FOLLOW LATER

  3. smile
    August 13, 2012

    congrats to you young man, may God continue to watch over you, keep doing what you do, stay humble, trust God, alot is in store for you on the long run.

  4. Morihei Ueshiba
    August 13, 2012

    Bwoy I wish my Govt in Dominica was like the Grenadian Govt promoting their atheletes. 8-O

  5. Dominicanpearl2
    August 12, 2012

    Congratulations Mr. James. We will follow your example and hope DA will win something in 2016. I’m hoping for gold but will be happy for any medal. God bless.

  6. prisca
    August 12, 2012

    Well deserved congratulatios.But isn’t ironic when it was suggested that Shane be named as Goodwill Ambassador some of his countrymen implied that he did no deserve it? A Grenadian has uplifted his country in a similar fashion everyone is adding their two cents on how he should be honored.

    Shame on you Dominicans. The saying is really true that… A prophet is not honored in his own country.

  7. Hmmmm!
    August 12, 2012

    Indeed we are delighted at Kirani’s and Grenada’s achievement. Congratulations!! Now step up Dominica.

  8. Helas!
    August 12, 2012

    I am happy for the region and the young man, however all those calling for this and for that I do not aggree with.
    Let me see a uniform that not only depicts D/ca or Grenada etc, but shows the OECS and then I will be very happy that the OECS and the individual countries is worthy of extended praises.

  9. Mie
    August 11, 2012

    Congratulations, you have a very bright future in track and field, I wish you all the best in the future.

  10. evenhanded
    August 11, 2012

    An OECS Sports Academy with related “best practice” facilities should be established fortwith.The Govt of Australia may be willing to assist with this venture.Former PM E C James visited the AUS facility in Canberra in 1995 . Dominica could expand and modernize its facilities at Castle Bruce ,Geneva/Grandbay and in the North(Portmouth or Marigot) to be included in this sub-regional arrangement!

  11. strange
    August 11, 2012

    i am so happy for this youbg star. he will be an inspiration for many in the caribbean who are left without hope and motivation. May God bless you. He is really remarkable in the way he displayed sportmanship with South African Runner. Your parents and country must have done some well. D/a turn in 2016 with Luan

  12. Dominican
    August 11, 2012

    Well deserved win. as a man of grenadian roots i am very proud of your victory… every oecs country should give you a lot of land as a gift for your achievement is celebration of oecs assembly day… you are young and these parcels of land will help protect your future… :wink: oecs leaders i putting you to the test, give the young man something of worth, put your mouth to the test give the man a lot of land in each island to call his own… for winning gold

    • makakwi
      August 13, 2012

      in trinidad the government give the guy who got gold in the javeline moeny, a lot of land, a house, a university education, they name a monument after him and a plane will be namesd after him… plus more. he won gold for trinidad.

      zort makakwi. well he from grenada not no damn oecs, so we will give him what we have to give him. that is oecs unity will never work because domnitjen ce famille whechet… you all dont like to share but you always want… :wink:

  13. concerned
    August 11, 2012

    congrats my friend..

  14. roseau massive
    August 11, 2012

    i looked at u running that day and i was so appy i cried, congrats to u kirani on getting that gold medal, am so proud of u …congrats to he silver and bronze medalist because they were also from the caribbean…

  15. The Colonel
    August 11, 2012

    The whole of the Caribbean feels proud of Kirani and Grenada’s achievement.
    Over the years Grenada has done well on the World’s arena. First it was Jennifer Holsten winning the Miss World crown in 1970. Then in 2005 Cpl Johnson Beharry, a Grenadian serving in the British Army, was awarded the Victoria Cross Medal ,the highest military decoration in Britain and the Commomwealth.
    Well done the Spice Isle.

  16. ALL SPORTS
    August 11, 2012

    Great for the Grenadian,Great for the OECS people. Grenadians support their athletes to the Bone: A primary and SECONDARY Schools… and College. We need to take a page from their book and not just wait and hope something good will happen. ARE WE GETTING THERE AMBASSADOR? Yes, I think we are……………..

  17. SimonB
    August 11, 2012

    Congratulations Kirani, you made Grenada and the whole of the Caribbean so proud. Keep it up and always hold your head high.

  18. Excell
    August 11, 2012

    That’s the right move from the OECS,let’s celebrate our sporting achievements.Kerani 2012!…Luan 2016!…let’s make it happen,we must invest in our athletes!

  19. Peeping Tom
    August 11, 2012

    Nice. Nice! The same should be done at a CARICOM level for other athletes from the wider Caribbean.

  20. August 11, 2012

    congratulations Mr James on your achivment.you have made the whole O.E.C.S proude. May God bless you with long life and good health as you aspier to higher hights.stay focus and clean.blessings to you.one love.

  21. H_town
    August 11, 2012

    woow that’s nice bring recognized by leaders.make your country proud

  22. G
    August 11, 2012

    That was a great performance..

  23. Brain DAMAGE
    August 11, 2012

    Welcome james on your achievement. The Caribbean is proud of you.

  24. August 11, 2012

    ONE sure way to honor him is for each Caribbean country give some token gift towards building a multipurpose building to facilitate in training of our up and coming athlete and get more of them prepared for 2016 games in Brazil. Also name the facilities after this Brother.

  25. Princess
    August 11, 2012

    Great stuff!

  26. tiny
    August 11, 2012

    he athletes in the US get rich because of endorsements contracts

  27. tiny
    August 11, 2012

    give me a freaking break….for running?….acting he researching cure for cancer..or becoming a successful entrepreneur who will employ a whole lot of people

  28. Doc.Love
    August 11, 2012

    Nonsense,when Shane Shillingford took ten wickets against the Australians,it was only Mr. Hunt on St. Lucia who recognised him.When Irvine Shillingford scored a century against the Australian in Guyana,it was only Mr. Pat John who honoured him with an award of merit. :lol:

    • Vanessa
      August 13, 2012

      D you forget that the Olympics recognises trhe best of the best?

      Did these individual performances make them the best of the best

  29. Derp
    August 11, 2012

    Caribbean getting big up

  30. Mango-Bab
    August 11, 2012

    Well he is my name sake. CONGRATS to him, an OECS man, and a Windward Islander. Hope Liat provides him with free, hassle-free flights for the next 4 years, till the next Olympics

  31. T
    August 11, 2012

    If only in Dominica we had a government that was interested in the youths of this country!
    What we have is “a bottle of bois banday” government.

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