The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE “GOLDEN Knights” received more than $100,000 yesterday courtesy of the Government of the Bahamas.

Demetrius Pinder, Chris Brown, Michael Mathieu and Ramon Miller paid a courtesy call on Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes at Government House, where they were presented with their cash reward.

Minister of Sports Danny Johnson said collectively the cheques awarded to the men’s 4x400 team totalled over $100,000. However, he would not disclose the exact amount each individual received or what other gifts would be given to the athletes on behalf of the government.

“We do not wish to disclose what each individual got but I will say there is more to come,” he said.

“It’s evenly distributed. They all got an even amount. But there are also other things that are coming for them, but I have to leave that for the Prime Minister to announce. They collected their cash reward from the Bahamas government today, but they will receive more stuff in a meeting tomorrow. That’s all I am willing to say at this time. We do not really want to release individual figures, I think it is a private concern. It’ll be up to them to say what all they get, but I won’t say.”

Mr Johnson said the athletes will receive the remainder of their gifts during a closed meeting at the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture today.

For their 2000 performance at the Sydney Olympics, which captured the country’s first gold medal in track and field, the five “Golden Girls” each received $40,000, a 20,000 square-foot plot of land valued at $400,000 for a total of $2,000,000 and a commemorative gold coin.

Mr Johnson said the Golden Knights will receive traditional and non-traditional gifts.

Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes congratulated the men on their victory and told them they are an “inspiration to young people everywhere.” He also encouraged the older generation to have faith in young people rather than being overly critical.

“These young men will serve as inspiration to future generations of Bahamians. We have to stop this talk that the next generations of Bahamians are going to hell, they are not. I see them all the time. I saw some yesterday. I saw some of our world college scholars in this very room, travelling the Bahamas, I see bright young Bahamians all over,” he said.

“Old people stop talking that kind of foolishness about the next generation going to hell. We have problems with some of our young people, but those problems are usually not the fault of the young people, but the fault of society and parenting. So let’s stop that and give our young people all the encouragement they need going forward and remember this, they have challenges that we never had in our time. They are exposed to negative influences, television, Internet and all these things. So be patient and instead of bad mouthing them, put your arms around them and encourage them, give them a hug and say well done more often.”

Chris Brown thanked Sir Arthur and the government for their generosity and support on behalf of the Golden Knights.

The athletes were awarded the cheques in the order in which they ran the 4x400.

Bank of the Bahamas became the first corporate sponsor to reward the team. The bank presented the quartet with a $12,000 cheque on Wednesday.

They also received gift bags from Carlo Milano, including Carlo Milano watches, Versace sunglasses, cologne and Feragamo shoes.