Indentureship Indian Heritage Month May 05

PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo hands over the cheque for G$5 million to World Boxing Council (WBC) cruiserweight champion Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite, making good the promise he made to the boxer. The champion’s mother, Claire Small, is also in the picture.

GOVERNMENT has once again kept its promise to a champion in the boxing profession. This time it’s Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite.

Yesterday afternoon President Bharrat Jagdeo presented a G$5M cheque to the world champion at the Office of the President.

Braithwaite won the World Boxing Council (WBC) cruiserweight title when he stopped Italian Vincenzo Cantatore in the tenth round of the October 11 clash in Italy.

Eight days later, ‘Vicious’ Vivian Harris won another world title, taking the World Boxing Association (WBA) super-lightweight crown in the second round when he came up against former holder of the title, Diobleys Hurtado on the night of October 19 in Texas, United States.

The boxers subsequently returned to Guyana last month to celebrate their victories with their Guyanese fans. Upon their arrival President Jagdeo met the duo and expressed Government’s as well as the people’s pride in their accomplishments.

To this end, the Head of State promised that each of the two champs will be given the privilege of choosing a house lot at an available housing scheme, G$5M to build a house and will be given duty-free concession on a vehicle with the exemption of payment of custom duties and the waiver of the purchase tax.

The President’s presentation yesterday was one to deliver the cheque to Braithwaite, who was accompanied by his mother Claire Small.

In an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), ‘Big Truck’ said that he has already chosen a lot at Diamond middle-income Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara. The lot is valued at $1.2M. Construction of this house will start when he returns from the U.S. next year-end.

The boxer is expected to return to the USA today to start preparation for his next fight on February 21.

And what does he think about his gift?

“I think it is nice that they delivered on a promise. I am a proud Guyanese and will continue to do my best to bring pride to Guyana,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Harris, who only spent a week in Guyana, will receive his gift soon. The president, in their meetings, had said that the presentation would be made within six weeks of their meeting. To date two weeks have elapsed. U.S. Consular Brentnol Evans will present the cheque to Harris in U.S. dollars, equivalent to G$5M.

He has also chosen a lot at Diamond Housing Scheme.

The boxers arrived at the Cheddi Jagan Airport, Timehri on November 8, to a warm Guyanese welcome and were greeted along the East Bank Public Road by schoolchildren and their teachers.

Living up to their names as Champions, the men braved the inclement weather and despite the rain remained in the open-back vehicle entourage all the way to the City, where they stopped at the Mayor and City Council for a civil reception by Mayor Hamilton Green.

In their honour, the President hosted a reception at Umana Yana, Georgetown, where many congratulations and best wishes were offered to the conquerors, who expressed pleasure at celebrating their victories with fellow Guyanese.

Braithwaite lived in the village of Plaisance on the East Coast Demerara and Harris lived in South Ruimveldt and Alberttown in the city.

The latter left Guyana when he was 14 years old while the former migrated some two and a half years ago to pursue his childhood dream - boxing.

Thursday, December, 05 2002