Included in the long list of Kittitians, Nevisians and other Caribbean nationals who have been showering praises on the 35 year old athlete, is the Leader of the main opposition political party in St. Kitts & Nevis, Mr. Lindsay Grant.
The PAM Leader issued a call to the federal government of St. Kitts & Nevis to officially make Kim a national Sports and Tourism Ambassador of the country.
“I am calling on the government to seriously consider Kim as a National Hero and to appoint him as the federation’s Sports and Tourism Ambassador, as has been done in Antigua with Sir Viv Richards and in Trinidad and Tobago with Sir Brian Lara,” said Grant.
He continued, “The government hires and pays rejected candidates big money as advisors for essentially doing nothing, while we have someone the stature of Kim Collins, who to this day, has not been given the stature that Richards and Lara have been given in their respective countries. I also would implore the government to review or reconsider its decision in the naming of the athletic stadium, and officially rename it the Kim Collins Athletic Stadium. These things will be a good start in beginning to not only give Collins his just due, but to fully take advantage and acknowledge his tremendous and historic achievements.”
Grant is of the opinion that, “Kim continues to do our country and indeed our entire Caribbean region proud on the international scene, as one of the most successful and popular athletes in the world. He is without a doubt our country’s biggest and most famous son of the soil and his name and his legacy will for a long time remain the most celebrated asset this country has ever had. On behalf of the People’s Action Movement, I say congratulations and well done to Kim Collins”
The Opposition Party Leader also commented on what he perceives to be a continued lack of respect and recognition of Collins’ accomplishments by the ruling Labour Party Administration.
“I must continue to express my grave concern and I am confident the concern of most nationals of this country, at the seemingly understated recognition of Kim and his accomplishments by this government,” said Grant.
“Kim has done so much for our country and in my opinion he still struggles to get the respect he deserves from the government. He is loved by the people and his accomplishments and humility has made him a role model to all children of this country, yet he finds himself being disrespected in so many ways, from the naming of the Athletic Stadium at Bird Rock, to the stretch of road named in his honour, which has no lights and even a proper sign, while the new west bypass road boasts a lighted post, almost every 20 feet,” Grant continued
After winning the 100m back in 2003, Collins returned 8 years later to secure the Bronze medal on Sunday, in a star studded line-up of the world’s greatest athletes.