RJR Sports Foundation and National Sports Awards Ceremony

Source from:  Jamaica Observer 01/09/2009

Dear Editor, Some years ago the Annual Sports Awards function which had been sponsored and funded for many years by the Carreras Sports Foundation was taken over by the RJR Sports Foundation. The reason for Carreras giving up the sponsorship was the link with the tobacco industry and sports. So far the RJR Foundation has not had a distinguished series of awards ceremonies. The latest announcement in the Jamaica Observer on January 1 of a new RJR Foundation Board being appointed seems a serious slight in the organisation of this national and public event. First, there was a media report with Michael Hall, the former chairman, stating that the former board had not met for the year. He and the other members of the board were seriously lacking in civic responsibility to allow a situation to happen when the awards ceremony appeared to be in doubt. Second, if RJR had planned to appoint a new board, why wait until early January to announce this? The ceremony has traditionally been held in January, and for good reason. Many of the prominent athletes become involved in the indoor season early in the year so that it is important to have the ceremony when they are available. In addition, the selection of the awardees and nominees takes time to liaise with sporting organisations well ahead of time. I made three unsuccessful attempts to contact Mr Gary Allen of RJR in December to find out if the ceremony was going to be held in 2009. This is an important national event and RJR must not be allowed to behave as if the event is theirs to organise and host if and when they please. I do hope that commitments that were made on behalf of RJR to continue work on the history of the awards ceremony will be honoured. Enditem AW Sangster Former Chair Carreras Sports Foundation Hope Pastures Kingston 6