We live every day with the hope that the good Lord will allow us to utilise the gifts which he had given us, whether it be planting a tree in order to reap the benefits of its fruit or sprinting down the track ahead of a talented field of athletes in a major event. Fortunately, I grew up in a community environment where almost all our neighbours were aspiring to various levels of success in their choice of events. In the midst of this euphoria and surrounded by a most talented bunch of youngsters a bit older than I was, the challenge of competition was a mandatory option. Thanks to two wonderful guardians, who replaced my deceased mother and migrated dad, Edward and Agnes John, a humble lower income family, accepted the responsibility of bringing me into their household at the age of less than one year.
The small town situated north of the Croisee in San Juan was populated with families who seemed so comfortable with each other, that many felt as though they were all related. I am pleased to have followed the fundamental principles of those wonderful people who impacted my early years with superb examples of healthy sport and family relations. Somehow, the love for sport in my household was always accompanied by strong religious beliefs, and a desire to ensure that my sisters and I enjoyed the type of education which was available. Much has gone past during my life and the joys and excitement had certainly been a successful competitor against the challenges which are so evident in our lives.
The success stories as well as the sad moments have always been accepted as God's work and despite the goals scored, the runs made, or the matches won, the memory of some outstanding people seem to have been well placed to bring support at the right time. The citizens of T&T Committee, by nominating me for this national Republic Day award, have brought to me, my family and friends a level of joy and satisfaction which could not be surpassed, and it has come at a time in my life that allows me to reflect on those who have been contributors to my every step. It is also very coincidental that this prestigious award was presented to me on the exact day (September 24) when my dad would have been 100 years old, had he still been around.
I am eternally grateful to the members of that committee who are probably expressing the appreciation of our society as to whatever areas of my life had brought some type of joy to the people of this blessed country. Sitting quietly and reminiscing about the activities of achievements, the contacts with some of the finest persons whom I had interacted along the way, plus the blessings of good health, a family who appears well knit every time I rise in the morning, and satisfying moments of peace, could hopefully be a silent path to my years to come. While I understand fully what sport brought to my image during the most formative years, I am still placing ahead, my desire to deal with kids whose visions were similar to my own but maybe needed some type of guidance from those who have gone that route.
Having walked that road, I volunteered to accept the challenge, using sport as the catalyst but ensuring that each child can realise his dream, especially through a good academic exposure. After 40 years of close association with thousands of this country's children, my greatest joy is witnessing the doctors, lawyers, engineers, business administrators, qualified mechanics, and a host of other professionals, who have passed through my academy and entered the corridors of universities in North America, to obtain full scholarships and exposure to their choice of sport at the tertiary level.
I am aware that my desire to serve has not waned and hopefully my gifts from God will allow me to continue to enjoy life and serve the nation in whatever ways I can. May the good Lord bless the people of this country and the rest of the region where I have made some lifelong friends over the years. If my wife and I have succeeded in being an example for my children and grandchildren, I am more than pleased, as they have brought us joy and happiness to the max.
