Kingston, 20 March 2024 (JIS) - The Government, through the Sports Development Foundation, has provided a $40-million grant to the Jamaica Chess Federation to build the sport locally.

The investment is in support of a project first announced by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Honourable Nigel Clarke, in his 2023/24 Budget Debate presentation on March 7, 2023, to produce a Jamaican Chess Grandmaster in 10 years.

The Minister, in his address at the grant handover ceremony on Wednesday (March 20) at the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in New Kingston, said that chess “is the next frontier for Jamaica to excel in internationally”.

Noting that Jamaica has the ability to produce a Chess Grandmaster, he informed that the first black Grandmaster, Maurice Ashley, is an American who was born in the island.

Minister Clarke said that the country’s ability to compete on the international scene is already well established, and “if we put our effort in it, we can [achieve] that Grandmaster status. It is incumbent on us to ensure that the mission is accomplished”.

During Wednesday’s ceremony, a cheque valued at $2 million was also presented to the Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica to fund the national team to the upcoming Carifta Aquatics Championships, with $350,000 going to Mona Preparatory to support the school’s participation in the 12th annual Junior Florida Netball Classic.

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, urged the beneficiaries of the grants to use the funds well. “Keep Jamaica proud, and keep being great ambassadors,” she said.

She informed that the Chess Federation will be working closely with the Institute of Sports and the SDF, to build the sport in primary schools.

The Minister of Education and Youth, the Honourable Fayval Williams, in her remarks, said she would like to see chess expanded in schools, noting that the game helps to foster discipline and concentration among students.

Jamaica will be participating in the 2024 Carifta Aquatics Championships in swimming, and artistic swimming.

A total of 28 swimmers will compete in The Bahamas between March 28 and April 2, while artistic swimmers will compete in Coral Springs, Florida, from March 27 to April 3.

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