Caribbean administrators hail Jason ‘AK 47’ Barker nomination

Apr 02, 2017 Sports

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Caribbean Super heavyweight boxing champion Jason ‘AK 47’has been receiving rave reviews for

his nomination for the Guyana 2016 Sportsman of the Year Award. Barker, an inmate of the Georgetown Prison, was recently nominated by the Guyana Boxing Association for the prestigious award. The nomination created history as it is the first time that an inmate’s name was submitted for the award.
Boxing aficionados and administrators from across the Caribbean have hailed Barker’s recent elevation claiming that it is a positive injection for the sport across the region.
Head of the Jamaica Boxing Association Stephen ‘Bomber’ Jones welcomed the decision and argued that it was another “bold move” made by GBA president Steve Ninvalle.
“The fact that Jason Barker has even been nominated for the Sportsman of the Year in Guyana is already a win on many levels in my eyes. It’s a win for him as an athlete because it is recognition that hard work put in, no matter the circumstances, will pay off. It is a win for the Guyana Boxing Association for in order to be a registered boxer on the national level certain disciplines need to be adhered to. So in order for Jason Barker to have made that cut it gives credence to a penile system that is not just incarcerating but more importantly, rehabilitating,” Jones said.
“It is a win for Caribbean Boxing on a whole as not only is this a story which will inspire other associations to follow suit, but it also means that we have a tremendous talent in the heavyweight division which will only force the level of the rest of our boxers to rise. At the end of the day a win for one of us is a win for all of us. Mr. Jason

Barker has my vote,” declared Jones.
Overseas based boxing promoter Seon Bristol saluted the nomination. “Great news, great sacrifice and a job well done. The fact that Mr. AK 47 could have kept his focus and hone his skills in such an environment speak volumes of his discipline. This is not his first but second gold medal at the Caribbean Championships. I fully support his nomination but the icing on the cake would be when he is crowned Guyana’s Sportsman of the Year. Great job Mr. AK 47, great job Guyana Boxing Association and great job Guyana Prison Service,” Bristol added.
General Secretary of the Barbados Amateur Boxing Association Kathy Harper-Hall, who witnessed Barker’s triumph in Barbados last year, applauded the GBA’s decision. “I think that it’s a good thing that the Guyana Boxing Association has decided to do that. If boxing can be used a tool to reform then its hooray for the sport in general. I fully support the idea and it is my hope that Mr. Barker is given favourable consideration,” Harper-Hall, considered to be the mother of Caribbean boxing declared.
President of the St Lucia Amateur Boxing Association David ‘Shakes’ Christopher, described the Barker’s selection as pivotal and historic. “The bigger picture is that boxing can change the lives of persons. Mr. Jason Barker deserves it and I would vote with both hands in the year for him to get that award. We are trying to copy the system that is in Guyana so that we can go into our prison and attempt to reform some of the inmates.

I commend the president and executive of the GBA for their role in changing lives and making better citizens. My hope is that this can be used for an early release of Jason Barker and he be used to prevent others from ending up in prison,” Christopher stated.
Meanwhile, the Caribbean’s only Three Star AIBA Referee/Judge Trinidadian ‘King’ James Beckles acknowledged that not many sport disciplines can boast of such reforming abilities. “It does wonders for the sport. In fact anytime you can have people being rehabilitated through a sport it is special. Not every sport can do this. You will not find many footballers and cricketers coming through the system and doing so well. It’s about getting a second chance and a chance to better your life and represent your country. This says a lot for the present programme that Guyana has going,” Beckles stated.
The 27-year-old Barker defied the odds when he moved up from his heavyweight comfort zone to snatch the region’s superheavyweight title in Barbados last December.
”We obviously had no hesitation is nominating Mr. Barker. He has done, himself, the Guyana Prison Service and Guyana very proud. I am not certain but this may be the first time that we have actually had an inmate of the prison being nominated for such a prestigious award,” Ninvalle said recently.
Barker has ruled the local heavyweight scene with an iron fist. He won the National Open with ease and has not lost a fight during last year. With promptings from the local coaching team he decided to take aim at the Caribbean Super Heavyweight title in Barbados.
There in the final, ‘The Prison Pride’ defeated Jamaican Ricardo Brown who outweighed him by over 40 pounds.
”Even with the odds stacked against him Mr. Barker was able to achieve what many considered to be improbable. Even if he were to quit the sport now he would still be a success story. He has turned his life around and is well respected in the prison. It is our hope that his achievements, disciple and dedication would inspire other inmates,” Ninvalle added.
The National Sport Awards is scheduled to be held on April 21 and is organized by the National Sports Commission.

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