The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie told students at the opening of a basketball tournament in Grand Bahama yesterday his personal story of hope and how sports inspired a change of direction in his life.

Mr Christie, who was expelled from school at 14 after being told he could not learn, spoke of how he turned to athletics and junkanoo as his pastime, which taught him discipline. He was at the opening of the Tabernacle Baptist Christian Academy’s 16th annual Thanksgiving basketball tournament.

“The discipline of training and the discipline in preparation taught me lessons in life,” Mr Christie said. “I was a triple and long jumper and the fourth man in the relay, and it took training and discipline, dedication and commitment – and all of a sudden ... there was a hope leading to expectation, which developed into anticipation that I could become something special,” he said.

“This is the second school I have been to in Grand Bahama in my entire political career - on the 27th of this month, I would have been 40 consecutive years in public life. It is a privilege to be invited to this school and to share with the generations of children who have performed,” he said.

Mr Christie emphasised that educators and parents play an important role in children’s lives. “At the age of 14, I was expelled from school. My father was a taxi driver and worked night and day and my mother was a midwife working shifts at the hospital. In the scheme of things, insufficient attention was paid to me and I did not pay attention as I ought to have to our teachers – and they had a damning conclusion that I could not learn sufficiently and that I should get a trade.

“The parents and teachers who are here present ... I am a living example of someone who had the opportunity taken away – the application of a harsh judgment that was incorrect. (But) The willingness of a teacher, Principal Donald Davis ... recognised they are wrong ... and gave me a second chance,” he recalled. Mr Christie went on to university in London and studied law.

“Parents and teachers, there are children who may have gone from class to class who may not even be average, but if you exercise that extra degree of discernment, you can see the precious qualities that remain undiscovered, and you can be the catalyst in their life,” he said.

Mr Christie told students that being knocked down is not what matters, it is how many times you get back up. “Whether you play basketball or any kind of sport, it is an indispensable part of your learning. And if you are involved in team sports, then you have another extraordinary learning that you will pick up,” he said.

Mr Christie said that the Bahamas has produced some top athletes, including NBA stars Mychal Thompson and Rick Foxx of the LA Lakers. He also said that Bahamians such as Sydney Poitier and Paul Meeres have also achieved enormous success in acting.

Jonique Jones, a former student of Tabernacle Baptist who received a Division One scholarship, also visited the school and was recognised for her talent.

The Prime Minister said the Academy students are well educated and talented and commended Principal and coach Norris Bain. “What I see here today is tangible evidence ... if he can do this in this small part in our Commonwealth what if he had the privilege to find talent all over this country,” he said.

Mr Christie welcomed the visiting teams to the Bahamas, emphasising that sports tourism is important to the country. “The minister of tourism is promoting sports. Last year this time we had the Miami Heat in town, and four weeks ago I met the new owner of the Milwaukee Bucks who just bought the team for $500 million who have the youngest team in the NBA, and we are talking to him about a major investment in the Bahamas,” he said.

Twelve high school teams are competing in the tournament, six from the United States and six in the Bahamas. There are three teams from Tennessee - Jefferson County, Science Hill and Seymour High - and three from Georgia, Southwest Dekalb, Tucker High and Columbia High. The Bahamas teams are defending champions Tabernacle Academy, Sunland Baptist, St George’s High, Eight Mile Rock High, Jack Hayward and CI Gibson.