Prime Minister Bruce Golding has approved the model of the statue that will be erected in honour of Olympic great, Herb McKenley.

Sculpted by noted Jamaican artist Basil Watson, the presentation was made in the presence of Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, who informed the prime minister that the sculpture will be installed at Independence Park in November, on the second anniversary of the death of the great sprinter.

Grange acknowledged Watson's generosity and commitment in granting the government an irrevocable royalty-free licence to use and reproduce the material for the purposes of advertisement and promotion, including the right to commercial exploitation of the material, which includes the production of photographs and miniatures.

The money earned from this activity is earmarked for a special creative industries and cultural enhancement fund, to be established by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

Mentoring and coaching

Watson said that the title of his sculpture is Beyond the Tape, as he sought to evoke the spirit of giving of the pioneer sprinter. When installed, Beyond the Tape will be in context with the other statues at the park.

The sculptor noted that in athletic terms, Dr Arthur Wint represented The Start, Don Quarrie The Stride and Merlene Ottey Celebration at the Finish.

He further noted that McKenley went "beyond the finish line by mentoring and coaching generations of athletes".

The statue is already being sculpted and will be bronzed in Atlanta, USA.