At the opening of the new Sports Centre at the Mona Rehabilitation Centre, Governor General His Excellency the Most Hon Florizel Glasspole highlighted the transformative power of sports for the disabled. The centre, serving as a sports and social club, aims to enhance the lives of disabled individuals by providing opportunities for physical activity, social interaction, and community building.

Published Wednesday, July, 10, 1974

GG opens Mona Rehab Sports Centre

Gleaner Sports Reporter

BEFORE A LARGE and appreciative audience, His Excellency the Governor General, the Most Hon Florizel Glasspole yesterday afternoon officially declared open the new Sports Centre at the Mona Rehabilitation Centre, which will serve as a sports and social club for the handicapped and some able-bodied people.

Among those present at the function were the United States Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Sumner Gerard and Mrs Gerard, and Minister of Agriculture the Hon Keble Munn.

In his address, the governor general praised Professor John Golding and Sammy Henriques for their invaluable work done among paraplegics.

He also had high praises for the way in which the paraplegics team performed in games both at home and abroad, commenting that it would be heartening if “our able-bodied men could do half as much”.

In continuing his praise for Professor Golding and Henriques, His Excellency said “Jamaica owes these two men and their capable staff a debt of gratitude that we will never be able to repay as long as life lasts.”

Professor Golding, general secretary of the Pan American Wheelchair Association, gave a brief history on wheelchair games both at home and abroad, as well as details about the newly acquired clubhouse.

The other guest speaker at the function Huntley Forrester, president of the Jamaica Paraplegic Sport and Social Clubs enlightened the audience concerning the benefit of sport to the disabled, and expressed the hope that those who had the pleasure of using the facilities of the club would benefit greatly from it.

Also present at the opening yesterday were the Custos of Kingston Dr Aubrey MacFarlane, observers from Puerto Rico, Trinidad and the Dominican Republic, a paraplegics team of 26 from the Bahamas, and a team of 10 from the United States who are currently participating in a sports seminar at the Rehabilitation Centre,’ Master of ceremonies was Sammy Henriques, president of the Jamaica Paraplegics Association.

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