Dear Editor,
I write regarding the Jamaica Observer article that was published on March 15, 2016, ‘New champs security method to be tested over course of meet’.
I like the fact that they are trying to improve security at the event because it is badly needed. The only problem is I believe that they say this every year before the championships and on the final day everything seems to go out the door.
I have been going to Champs since 2010 and I cannot pinpoint one really serious incident that took place in those years, but I believe that I have heard most of the things that was said in that article already. For example, “Firearms, knives, all illegal drugs, glass bottles, flagpoles over 12 inches, selfie sticks, large umbrellas, lighters, and frozen bottles are all prohibited.” While I can’t speak on firearms, I surely can say that I have seen drugs, glass bottles, umbrellas, lighters, glass and also frozen bottles.
Like almost all systems in Jamaica, there are many loopholes. While they search a patron attending the event, I don’t believe that they search athletes or vendors. And I believe that they can also bring in some of those items without trouble.
The other point that I would like to talk about is the throwing of missiles (mainly bottles). “Anyone caught on closed-circuit cameras or by the police throwing any missiles will be ejected from the venue,” the story read. Over the years this has became somewhat of a Champs tradition, whether a particular school is winning or not this will always happen. So saying that people would be ejected if caught doing so I believe is a strong statement. I must say I would love to see that happen, because I believe that they would have to take out half the people attending the event. I don’t see that happening. So I don’t think they should say that and try to mislead patrons.
Romaine Williamson
williamsonr244@strose.edu
I write regarding the Jamaica Observer article that was published on March 15, 2016, ‘New champs security method to be tested over course of meet’.
I like the fact that they are trying to improve security at the event because it is badly needed. The only problem is I believe that they say this every year before the championships and on the final day everything seems to go out the door.
I have been going to Champs since 2010 and I cannot pinpoint one really serious incident that took place in those years, but I believe that I have heard most of the things that was said in that article already. For example, “Firearms, knives, all illegal drugs, glass bottles, flagpoles over 12 inches, selfie sticks, large umbrellas, lighters, and frozen bottles are all prohibited.” While I can’t speak on firearms, I surely can say that I have seen drugs, glass bottles, umbrellas, lighters, glass and also frozen bottles.
Like almost all systems in Jamaica, there are many loopholes. While they search a patron attending the event, I don’t believe that they search athletes or vendors. And I believe that they can also bring in some of those items without trouble.
The other point that I would like to talk about is the throwing of missiles (mainly bottles). “Anyone caught on closed-circuit cameras or by the police throwing any missiles will be ejected from the venue,” the story read. Over the years this has became somewhat of a Champs tradition, whether a particular school is winning or not this will always happen. So saying that people would be ejected if caught doing so I believe is a strong statement. I must say I would love to see that happen, because I believe that they would have to take out half the people attending the event. I don’t see that happening. So I don’t think they should say that and try to mislead patrons.
Romaine Williamson
williamsonr244@strose.edu