Bolt's track is complete!

On Friday the official handing over ceremony of Usain Bolt’s Reugopol track by BSW Regupol Sports Floors took place at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus . The track is almost an exact replica of the one on which he broke the 100 meter record in Berlin last year and similar also to the 2008 Olympic track in Bejing where he catapulted to super stardom.

Usain making his entrace to the ceremony.

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UWI Principal Prof. Gordon Shirley holding a piece of the track donated by Ulf Poeppe of BSW.
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The blue and white eight-lane track is located to the north of the university's other main sporting facilities, namely, its four football fields, the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground, three tennis courts, a swimming pool and an indoor court. The university intends to create a Sporting Centre of Excellence, similar to that of the Australian Sports Academy.
The next phase of planned developments include a 6,000-seat mini-stadium with lighting, a football academy - in partnership with the Jamaica Football Federation - and a Caribbean Institute of Sports Medicine.

Ulf Poeppe, Prof. Gordon Shirley, Minister Babsy Grange and Usain take front row on stage.

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Usain Bolt and yours truly:-)

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Minister of Sports, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, who along with Bolt, UWI principal, Professor Gordon Shirley. Shirley, DSW’s Ulf Poeppe, IAAF regional representative, Neville 'Teddy' McCook, UWI director of sports, Grace Jackson, and Bolt's coach, Glen Mills were all on hand for the official ribbon cutting. Many notables in the sports world were present including FIFA reps, Adidas Reps, Puma, Courtney Walsh, Racers Track team members were present as well.

Minister Grange, Prof. Shirley and Usain Bolt along with Racers Track Members in the inaugural run!
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I must mention Captain Horace Burrell (Head of Jamaica's Football Federation) who arrived via helicopter in the middle of Professor Shirley's speech. That was entertaining to say the least. Usain's Coach gave a very entertaining speech. It was full of gratitude and sincerity but most of all light-hearted and filled with humour. One thing that was missing from the festivities, was recognition was not paid to the UWI Students who have been living next door to this construction zone. As a resident on Rex Nettleford Hall, it has not been easy dealing with all the dust, so a show of appreciation would have gone a long way. We do see the big picture though, and I am sure most if not all UWI students are happy for this addition.

Former Miss Dominica Leandra Lander eyes Miss UWI (Mona) Crown!

Leandra Lander Miss Dominica 2007, will be taking part in the Miss University Of The West Indies (UWI) Mona pageant on March 7th. She is asking fans and friends alike to vote for her to be in the top five via text messaging.


Though the number is not yet available, she wants the public to know of the event and be ready to vote for her as soon as it is. Currently, Leandra who represents Mary Seacole Hall is eighth out of ten contestants.

No stranger to pageants, Leandra has won Miss Dominica 2007, Miss Caribbean Culture (St. Kitts and Nevis), Miss Carival (St. Vincent) and Miss Jaycees Queen (Antigua) pageants all in the same year. She is not over-confident though as she states that "It is still a learning process and she is approaching it seriouly and without complacence."


Coronation night is March 7th 2010. Miss UWI Mona is open to full and part-time students of the campus. Leandra is seeking a Bachelor of Education in Geography.

Remember: “Contestant number 8: going to make it fabulous and great.”

RIP Rex Nettleford

As a proud "Rexan" and resident of Rex Nettleford Hall at the University of The West Indies Mona Campus, I must issue a sincere message of condolence to the family, friends and colleagues of Ralston Milton "Rex" Nettleford, OM (Jamaica), OCC, (February 3, 1933 - February 2, 2010).

Nettleford, 77, was the vice-chancellor emeritus of the University of the West Indies, having previously served as the vice-chancellor of the institution’s Mona Campus in Jamaica from 1996 to 2004. He died from complications of cardiac arrest after suffering a heart attack on Jan. 27th.




He is widely recognized as one of the Caribbean’s leading intellectuals and was bestowed with the Order of the Caribbean Community in 2008.

He was also the recipient of Jamaica’s third highest honour, the order of Merit and cultural adviser to Prime Minister Bruce Golding.


The founder of the internally acclaimed National Dance Theatre Company, Nettleford is also the author of several publications.

Take a look at one of his productions "Crossings" which was choreographed by him and performed in Barbados.
















Source of Dance pics



Above is one of the clusters of Rex Nettleford Hall which was officially opened by the Rt . Hon. PJ Patterson, P.C, Q.C, M.P on September 4th 2002.