JRTA backs grooms' security concerns

Ainsley Walters, Gleaner Writer

VINCENT EDWARDS, president of the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers Association (JRTA), has added his association's voice to concerns raised by grooms last December.

In a press release, the JRTA said in a recent meeting of the association one of the topics discussed was security issues at Caymanas Park.

Noting that there are "defects in the security as presently exists", the release added that the association "is of the opinion that the reasons cannot be attributed to any single party".

Edwards noted the JRTA wholeheartedly supported the existing security arrangements and pointed to "the uniqueness of the relationships within the compound between security personnel and backstretch workers".

In his address, Edwards said he stressed the importance of "all trainers and, indeed, all licensed personnel, to work closely with CTL and the authorised security personnel for best results".

In December, grooms at Cay-manas Park had expressed concerns for their future safety after learning that Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) had planned to make changes to security-personnel arrangements at the racetrack.

Thomas said his group would be most affected by any such change, yet CTL had not sought feedback from grooms.

"When they are long gone to their homes and families, far away from the racetrack, it is grooms who are here, some from dusk till dawn, with the horses, putting their lives at risk," he pointed out.

"It won't be a pretty situation down here should any of our members as much as lodge a safety com-plaint with the executive," Thomas said then.

Need for trust

The JRTA said it agrees with the grooms' concerns and urged CTL to be guided by the backstretch workers.

"There needs to be a development of a degree of trust, not only within the compound but also with the surrounding community," the release stated.

Caymanas Park has had safety issues in its stable areas, resulting in the shooting deaths of two trainers and a security guard in recent years.

However, since security was ramped up following the shooting death of trainer Donovan Bruce in November of 2009, there has been no report of any violent incident in the stable area.