PM, other dignitaries pay tribute at thanksgiving service for Usain Bolt’s dad

Prime Minister Andrew Holness turned up in support of Usain Bolt and his family at the thanksgiving service for the sprint icon’s father, Wellesley Bolt, at the Falmouth Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Trelawny on Sunday.

Holness offered words of comfort to the legendary sprinter, assuring him that the entire nation stands in solidarity with him during this time of mourning.

“What I want to say to Usain is that the entire nation mourns with you, the entire nation embraces the family and surrounds you with prayers at this difficult time,” Holness stated

The prime minister also credited Bolt’s parents and the residents of his native Sherwood Content community in Trelawny for the strong values that shaped the world champion.

“It is not easy to be a world champion, and I’m certain that it would have taken Usain’s village to raise him to become this world champion, but it all started in the home,” Holness said.

Among the other dignitaries in attendance at the thanksgiving service were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang; Minister of Sport, Olivia Grange; former Prime Minister Bruce Golding; and Member of Parliament (MP) for Northern Trelawny, Tova Hamilton.

During his tribute, Usain Bolt described his father as a respectful man, adding that he was committed to raising his own children with similar values.

“That’s how my dad was, and that’s how I’m trying to grow my kids—to have respect and to understand and to listen,” he shared.

Bolt also reflected on the work ethic and dedication he inherited from his father.

“For me, hard work. Throughout my life, I worked hard, and I’ve dedicated my life towards sports and track and field to be the best that I possibly can. And that’s one of my biggest lessons that I’ve learnt from my dad—to work hard and to be dedicated.

“And he not just only told me, I watched him work hard and provide for our family. There were nights that we would not even see daddy. When he was working for the coffee industry, he was up early and he would be in late. I knew and understood, and my mom would say, ‘Listen, your father is working hard to make sure you can get everything that you need,’” he said.

Wellesley Bolt passed away on March 31 after battling illness. He was a well-known businessman in Sherwood Content, and a former employee of the Coffee Industry Board.

Grange highlighted his dedication to community life, and praised his decision to remain in Sherwood Content despite the opportunities to relocate.

“Long before his son Usain became the greatest sprinter of all time, Wellesley Bolt, supported by his loving wife Jennifer, was a big man in his community of Sherwood Content in Trelawny. When you run a grocery shop, you’re a big man.

“The values which he cherished, which he shared with his relatives, providing them with food for the spirit and from the grocery shop, which he operated for 15 years until 2017, he supplied their everyday needs.

“Indeed. Wellesley could well have opted to move his family from Sherwood [Content] for ostentatious living, but chose to remain among his people, no matter the wealth which came his way. Demonstrating his love for his community and for sports, he would play a game of cricket with his friends in his community ever so often,” she said.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness (left) greets Usain during the latter’s father’s thanksgiving service at Falmouth Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Trelawny on Sunday. Looking on is Usain’s mother, Jennifer Bolt.

From left: Cricketer Chris Gayle, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner, Sports Minister Olivia Grange, and Ian ‘Pepe’ Goodison at the thanksgiving service for the life of Usain Bolt’s father, Wellesley Bolt, in Falmouth, Trelawny on Sunday.