However, pandemonium broke out after Jamaica, which was declared winner of all 8 relays, learned at the closing ceremony that they had been disqualified in one, the under-20 boys 4×400 relay. Trinidad and Tobago was declared the winner of the race, but the Jamaicans started a protest. The decision was placed under review and Jamaica was reinstated as the winner.

Last year at the games held in Martinique, Jamaica amassed a total of 89 medals, 42 gold, 34 silver and 13 bronze.

The Games held in St. Kitts from April 3-6 started with some accommodation hiccups but ended on a very successful note with athletes dancing to the pulsating and electrifying performance of the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Band. 

Omar Hawes, a coach of the Jamaican team said that he was very pleased with his athletes’ performances.

“I think we have had all round good performances. Over the years, we have seen and produced quite a number of good athletes who have done quite well,” Hawes said. “What is happening now is no new surprise to us.”

Hawes attributes Jamaica’s success in the athletics arena to hard work and pointed out that the athletes start training from very young. He also said that many athletes are motivated to do well because of the achievements of Jamaican athletic stars such as Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Donald Quarrie and Merlene Ottey, to name some.

“Track and field is a culture that has been developed over the years,” Hawes said.

Bahamas followed  Jamaica with 31 medals, 8 gold, 13 silver, and 10 bronze; Barbados placed third with 16, 7 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze; Trinidad and Tobago acquired 22 medals, 6 gold, 8 silver, 8 bronze; St. Kitts and Nevis gained nine, 1 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze; Grenada won 5, I gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze; Guadeloupe garnered 2 silver and three bronze; The B.V.I. accomplished 2 silver and 1 bronze; Suriname won 1 silver and one gold; St. Maarten has 1 silver; Antigua and Barbuda won 1 silver; Bermuda won 2 bronze and 1 silver; St. Lucia acquired 2 bronze; Cayman Islands won 1 bronze; Turks and Caicos Islands won 1 bronze; Dominica gained 1 bronze and Anguilla 1 bronze.

Out of 26 countries, St. Kitts and Nevis placed fifth in gold medal counts alongside Grenada and Suriname, an achievement worthy of praise.