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
delivers on promise to ‘Big Truck’
President presents $5M cheque to boxer
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