Perry, Comrie honor Reggae Girl Nicole McClure
Caribbean L 54 ife, Jan. 25–31, 2019
By Nelson A. King
Jamaican-born New York
legislators Assemblyman Nick
Perry and Senator Leroy Comrie
presented citations to Jamaica’s
Reggae Girl Nicole McClure,
who was a special guest of the
Queens-based Team Jamaica
Bickle (TJB), at its 25th anniversary
launch, at the Jamaica
Consulate in midtown Manhattan
on Jan. 8.
TJB is marking 25 years of
operations at the Penn Relays, at
the University of Pennsylvania,
in Philadelphia.
TJB said Perry and Comrie
presented the special award to
McClure, goalkeeper of the Reggae
Girls soccer team, during the
ceremony at the Jamaica Consulate
in midtown Manhattan.
Perry represents the 58th
Assembly District in Brooklyn,
which encompasses parts of East
Flatbush and Canarsie.
Comrie, represents the 14th
Senatorial District in Queens,
including portions of Jamaica,
Cambria Heights, Queens Village,
Hollis, St. Albans, Laurelton,
Jamaica Estates, Briarwood,
Hillcrest and Kew Gardens.
The Reggae Girls team created
history when it qualified for
the 2019 FIFA Women’s World
Cup to be held in France from
June 7 to July 7.
After receiving the citations,
McClure said she was “thankful
for the recognition” bestowed on
her, according to TJB, which provides
meals and transportation,
among other things, to Jamaican
and Caribbean athletes annually
at the Penn Relays Carnival.
She also spoke of “the place of
honor and the pride” she feels in
serving her country, TJB said.
“She expressed gratitude to
her family, and to her soccer club
and coaches for all they have
contributed to her development
and to Team Jamaica Bickle and
both Assemblyman Perry and
Sen. Comrie for the citations,”
TJB said.
McClure said that “being recognized
by Team Jamaica Bickle
is an honor.
“They are a prestigious organization
that caters to athletes
representing the Caribbean at
the Penn Relays,” she said. “To
be amongst such an elite group
means a lot to me – more than I
can describe.
“I’m proud to be a Jamaican
athlete,” McClure added. “I am
proud to have received a citation
from the New York State Assembly,
as well as from the office
from State Senate 14th District,
Leroy Comrie.”
In lauding McClure, TJB’s
founder and chairman, Jamaican
born Irwine Clare, Snr., said
she is “a great ambassador of the
Diaspora and Jamaica.”
“Born in the USA to hard
working and committed Jamaican
parents, Nicole embodies
and personifies our children’s
respect and willingness to associate
with their roots – a true
ambassador of our cultural heritage
and ‘Jamaicanism,’” Clare
said.
“We wish to express our
thanks to Team Jamaica Bickle
for the recognition given to our
daughter Nicole and the Reggae
Girlz during their 25th anniversary
launch,” said parents Sharon
and Charles McClure. “Nicole
was truly moved by the gesture
and wishes TJB continued success
as it caters to the needs of
athletes from Jamaica and the
Caribbean.”
TJB said it provides “premier
hospitality services” for athletes
from Jamaica and across the
Caribbean at the Relays Carnival
. It said athletes are “treated
to three hot meals daily,
ground transportation, chiropractic
and medical services, as
well as mentorship.
TJB, which was formed in
1994, five years later became
the first Jamaican organization
to be a participating sponsor at
the Penn Relays.
Nicole McClure gives acceptance speech. Roland Hyde