PORT OF SPAIN: 14TH MAY, 2022
At a ceremony held on 13th May, 2022 at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Minister Senator the Honourable Dr. Amery Browne honoured former Trinidad and Tobago athletes Mr. Wendell Mottley and Mr. Edwin Skinner, two members of the four-man bronze medal winning team in the men’s track and field 4x400 metre relay at the Tokyo Olympic Games of 1964.
This commemoration was a part of a series of activities arranged by the Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in New York to honour the four members of the relay team: Mr. Wendell Mottley, Mr. Edwin Skinner, Mr. Edwin Roberts and Mr. Kent Bernard. Three members of the quartet are part of the Trinidad and Tobago diaspora in the eastern United States of America.
All four, thriving in various fields, were expected to return to Tokyo more than fifty-six years later to witness the Olympic Games from 23rd July to 8th August, 2021. However, due to pandemic-related restrictions, the former four-man team could not make the anticipated triumphal return to Tokyo.
The commemoration featured a 48”x72” painting being produced of the quartet as they appeared days after their seminal achievement. The work by Trinidad and Tobago National Mrs. Alicia Aberdeen, was unveiled on 6th August, 2021 during a Virtual Ceremony held in honour of the relay team by the Consulate General of Trinidad and Tobago in New York. The event received the support of the Honourable Ministers of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs and Sport and Community Development.
All four gentlemen expressed genuine pleasure at the appreciation shown to them and showed great enthusiasm in receiving the planned prints of the original work.
Subsequently, on 30th April, 2022, Mr. Andre Laveau, Consul General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, New York, presented prints of the original artwork done by Mrs. Aberdeen, at a brief ceremony in New York.
The other two prints were presented to Mr. Wendell Mottley and Mr. Edwin Skinner today, 13th May, 2022 by Senator the Honourable Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs.
Today’s ceremony was attended in person by His Excellency Yutaka Mastsubara, Ambassador of Japan; Mr. Patrice Charles, DeputyDirector of Sport, Ministry of Sport and Community Development; and virtually by Mr. Edwin Roberts, Mr. Kent Bernard, Ms. Alicia Aberdeen and staff of the Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, New York.
