Sherika Miller, Human Interest Columnist
Amongst the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Dr Andre Haughton has initiated the idea to host Jamaica’s first ever soap box Grand Prix. Coming off the heads of childhood memory and past times, the event scheduled to take place in August 2, 2020 in the country’s second parish Montego Bay. The Senator believes that the event will help bring peace within the community and welcomes community residence, dignitaries and exhibitors to take part. The event will host 400m, 200m, 100m and 50m categories in Crawford Street, Mount Salem, Jamaica.
Many youngsters across the Caribbean in the 70’s and 80’s can relate to the thrills and sensation of building wooden go-carts with scraps of wood, old baby pram wheels, curtain rods for steering and the heel of the foot for brakes. The biggest part of the sport, (If it can be called that) was to find a steep hill with a smooth and preferably winding road. Boys back then didn’t think twice about the danger to oneself and the possibility of being seriously injured or killed by an oncoming vehicle. Such were the days of adventurous and risk hungry boys yearning to earn their stripes in a highly competitive Caribbean community.
The Crawford Street Grand Prix in Jamaica is reminiscent of the good old days of go-carting in St Lucia, Grenada and other Caribbean territories, and promises to be a very exciting time for young Jamaican thrill seekers. The idea that the sport has been recognised by the government as one worthy of funding and organisation into a national event is brilliant and an inspiration to youngsters of all backgrounds across the Caribbean. If you’d like to discuss this activity with me you can link me on https://www.facebook.com/caribbeanhookup/
