Ladies and gentlemen, good evening
It is my pleasure to be here, but more importantly, I am happy to celebrate with you as we celebrate our
wonderful women of worth and honor an outstanding 10 who have achieved individual transformation
while impacting the cultural, political and socioeconomic development of our beloved country.
It is no secret that women, more than men, have had to endure the many folds of inequalities across our
societies. Some call it the glass ceiling, and some opt to apply a more sophisticated terminology
intersectionality – which when put simply, underpins the overlapping layers of discrimination and
disadvantages one has to endure. Nonetheless, women continue to shatter these ceilings, breaking
these barriers and spectacularly leaving their mark on society, even while having to reproduce our
society. For that, I salute you, as I pause to pay homepage to those who have passed and those here
with us. To extend my respect, thanks and adoration for the work that has been done and the work you
continue to do. Our women deserve to be respected and recognized for their extraordinary
contributions to the development of Jamaica, despite it all.
Similarly, I commend the Montego Bay High School Past Students Association, Mobay Chapter, for
conceptualizing, planning and executing this landmark event. An event that is necessary, worthy and a
reminder to all women, that they can be two things according to Coco Chanel, she can be who and what
she wants. Always remember you have that power, as you continue to strive towards remarkable
triumphs. Incidentally, an event such as this, not only underscores the women in society, but amplifies
the society within the woman.
Finally, generosity is not always fluid in this neck of the woods, but we are grateful when corporate
Montego Bay understands the vision, adapts the vision and supports the vision. Therefore I want to
thank the sponsors who saw it fit to support this initiative.
To all the women here, thanks for being great. God bless you and may god continue to bless Jamaica
land we love.
Thank you
Organizers, judges, participants, patrons good evening
Let me immediate declare that the city of Montego Bay welcomes this initiative. We are elated to have
the Red Bull Car Park drifting debut in our city, but most importantly, being the first city, parish and
country in the Western Hemisphere to host this event since being conceptualized in 2005 and debuted
in 2008.
I want to welcome the Red Bull team and Mr. Michel Feghali, the first ever crowned king of drift to the
city of Montego Bay.
This event creates an outlet for our aspiring motorsport athletes to showcase their talent, skills and
competitiveness in a responsible and relatively safe space. From clouds of smoke to pendulum
challenges, this event is filled with excitement, entertainment and thrills, summing up the atmosphere
of our beloved city and parish. This is an opportunity for Montego Bay to embellish an additional legal
recreation, boost the local economy and add to the tourism product of the magic city. As such, I am
optimistic that this is an inaugural event, one that Montego Bay should not only embrace, but own.
Let me take this opportunity to also remind our motorists to drive carefully and responsibly as we have
already recorded over 230 road fatalities for this year. At this rate, we could lose over 1000 people to
reckless driving in the next 5 years. It is against this background that I urge our road hogs and road
racers to harness their skills in productive ways such as this event.
I am confident that with robust support for this event, a structured, carefully organized and dedicated
approach to the build out of motorsport in the city, Montego Bay can become the home of Red Bull Car
Park Drift and the home of motorsport in Jamaica. With that said, I want to thank the Red Bull team,
sponsors and supporters who have chosen Montego Bay and is now making the event a reality.
It has been my pleasure to join in this event as we seek to continue the development of Montego Bay
through social, infrastructural, political and economic enhancement.
My fellow montegonian, it is our time to drift into the future
God bless
One love