Good Afternoon - Minister Lawrence Scott, Acting Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Acting Director of Youth, Recreation and Sport, our guest of honour Mr Jah- nhai Perinchief:

We are here today at the Cabinet Office to welcome Jah-nhai home and congratulate him on his historic bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, last month.

We also recognise and celebrate that just two weeks later, Jah-nhai followed that bronze medal with a silver medal at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association Senior Championships in Freeport, Bahamas.

Jah-nhai’s consistency, tenacity and self-belief are an inspiration to all of those aspiring to enter athletics in Bermuda, and we are excited at the thought that there is still so much more to come from this 24 year old.

The Government is proud to continue to invest in our elite athletes who represent our country so proud and we do our best to support them and help them to succeed. We have made to support Jah-nhai, whether with cash support, or support for travel to various events.

And, I am happy to be here today with the Acting Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport who will present Jah-nhai with this award and cheque in recognition ofhis accomplishments.

Well done, Jah-nhai; congratulations on all you have accomplished, and welcome home!

And before I hand over to the Minister, I had the opportunity to sit with Jah-nhai inside and to speak, and I am confident that the best is yet to come.

He started here in Bermuda, he is going to bed down his training overseas, and I am confident that we will see additional strong performance.