New York Guyanese laud Harris, Braithwaite
By Orin Davidson In New York
Stabroek News
November 8, 2002
Prominent Guyanese sports fans in New York took time out to laud world boxing champions Wayne `Big Truck' Braithwaite and `Vicious' Vivian Harris at a function staged by the Guyana Consulate and the Guyanese Tri-State Alliance on Wednesday evening at the Savannah Restaurant and Bar on Jamaica Avenue, Queens.
Braithwaite, who knocked out Italian Vincenzo Cantatore for the World Boxing Council (WBC) belt last month, was decked out with his four championship belts won over the years.
WBA junior welterweight champ Harris was however absent but was represented by his father Herman Harris.
Braithwaite was showered with praises and told first hand about the joy he brought the Guyanese community in the city, through his accomplishments.
Consul General Brentnol Evans led a succession of plaudits accorded the two pugilists, describing their success as nothing less than great. He said for a small country to win two world titles in eight days was extraordinary and it has considerably lifted the morale of Guyanese all over the globe in the height of the problems the country is experiencing from the current crime wave.
"Ever since a few miscreants perpetuated great harm to the Guyanese population beginning from earlier this year, nothing more positive than the accomplishments of Wayne Braithwaite and Vivian Harris have made us feel good about ourselves," Evans stated. He also referred to the success of athlete Aliann Pompey who won a gold medal at this year's Commonwealth Games and stated that 2002 has so far been one of the best years for Guyana's sport internationally.
Ardent boxing fan Kenneth Persaud, a college professor, said he was overjoyed to know that the sport is finally giving Guyana justified world status as the country has a strong boxing tradition.
He said the accomplishments should be used to channel the energies of restless Guyanese at home, causing problems, into more organized boxing related programmes.
Master of Ceremonies Alim Hamed, traced the history of Guyana's boxing success from the days of Kid Tanner and Cliff Anderson stating that title wins by Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis, Braithwaite and Harris in the last year, has made thousands of Guyanese in America into instant boxing fans.
Braithwaite and his trainer Colin Morgan later thanked the audience and all Guyanese for their support with the former vowing to be Guyana's longest reigning world champion.
Morgan, who became the first head trainer to take a Guyanese to championship status, thanked Braithwaite for giving him the opportunity to create history and also expressed appreciation to North American Airways for providing six tickets for their homecoming trip back home.
In his presentation Herman Harris challenged the boxing fraternity in Queens to establish a boxing gym in the borough in view of the large number of Guyanese fans living there.
He also stated that the success of the two fighters was achieved by team work and urged that the trainers and administrators be given equal praise. Speeches were also made by Pat Langford of the Guyana Tri-State Alliance and Billy Braithwaite the New York Manager of North American Airways who disclosed that six tickets each were given to the two boxers who, with their entourages are scheduled to arrive in Guyana early this morning.
Harris, who stopped Cuban American Diosbelys Hurtado in two rounds to win his title eight days after Braithwaite's triumph, was held up in Albany on a business trip and could not attend the function at which plaques were presented to the two champions.
November 15, 2002
Report of New York event inaccurate
Dear Editor,
It was disturbing to see an article “New York Guyanese laud Harris, Braithwaite” (Nov 8, 2002) by Orin Davidson of New York. The article is so far removed from the facts that it makes one question the veracity of SN on which many readers have come to rely. Although it was merely about a hundred words it was laced with so much falsity that I am forced to draw your attention, and that of your readers to just three.
First: the event was chaired by Pandit Ramlall and not Alim Hamed, a fact which no efficient reporter can miss. Second: it was stated that the event was organized by two organisation; when, in fact there were three. Your man omitted to mention sponsor Arya Spiritual Center, a fact which could not have eluded even a rookie reporter. Third: the chairman gave a short history of Guyana’s international boxing repute by stating that the first prize fighter to bring gold to Guyana was Moti Kid Singh who used the pseudonym “Indian Rajah”. Such historical details also swell one’s bosom with pride and your man refused to hear that memorable fact of our history.
I suspect that your reporter was not only inefficient but is agenda driven. He has done journalism and SN irreparable harm. How sad!
Yours faithfully,
Pandit Ramlall
New York
Editor’s note:
Orin Davidson says he apologises for getting the honourable Pandit Ramlall’s name wrong, but notes that some aspects of the organizing of the event left a lot to be desired including the absence of a microphone for the delivery of the presentations and the unavailability of some officials for clarification afterwards.
The only mistake is the chairman’s name. As for the other ‘omissions’ a sponsor is not necessarily an organizer and it was not stated that evening that the Arya Spiritual Center was anything but a sponsor. Pandit Ramlall laments the omission of his mention of Motie Kid Singh during his presentation. But reporters include items in their own judgment and we have had features before on that boxer.
The Pandit’s criticism seems excessive in the circumstances.
