Introduction

In accordance with our proposal of February 11, 2004, accepted and agreed on February 18, 2004, we are please to provide our report presenting the documented system to administer an annual award named in the honour of Courtney Walsh.

We understand that this system will be utilised by Culture, Health, Arts, Sports, Education Fund Limited (hereinafter referred to as CHASE) to assist in administering the Courtney Walsh Award.

Background

On Thursday, May 15, 2003, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable P. J. Patterson gave a Toast to the Honourable Courtney Walsh, OJ, Ambassador at Large, at a function held in Ambassador Walsh’s honour. During this speech the Prime Minister stated a number of outstanding achievements of Courtney Walsh during the time he played cricket at the senior level for the West Indies Team. Among the achievements were:

• world record number of Test Wickets - 519;
• the first bowler in the History of the game to take 500 wickets; and
• the most balls bowled by any Test player - 30,019.

The Prime Minister also stated some of the finer qualities, which he has observed in Ambassador Walsh, which would be good for aspiring sports persons to emulate, which included:

• excellence;
• discipline;
• perpetuating the finest traditions of the game;
• indefatigable energy; and
• decorum.

Ambassador Walsh’s commitment to performing at his best for whichever team (the West Indies, Jamaica, his English County team or Excelsior) he was on, regardless of the level of cricket being playing, was highlighted by the Prime Minister. Mention was also made of his sportsmanship, humility, deportment and decorum. The Prime Minister stated that good role models are important in nation building and that Ambassador Walsh is an example of positive attitudes and high values.

It was then declared that there would be an annual award named in the honour of Courtney Walsh.

Attachments:

Awards Background Information

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