Mike Fennell deserves an Order of Merit (OM)

Last week, the Honourable Michael 'Mike' Fennell, Calabar old boy, was awarded The Gleaner Award for services in sports administration, subsequent to the successful staging of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Fennell is well deserving and he deserves it and more. In fact, he deserves an Order of Merit (OM).

The Order of Merit is the third-highest honour and may be conferred upon any Jamaican who has achieved eminent international distinction in his or her field of endeavour. This order may be conferred on no more than two persons in any given year and has a total of 15 living members. Honourees include Bob Marley, reggae legend, Louise Bennett, cultural icon, and Dr T. P. Lecky, scientist. Fennell deserves to be in this company.

Fennell's achievements are quite remarkable. As president of the Commonwealth Games he has been a wonderful leader. It was a bold move for him as head to oversee the award of the Games to Delhi, India. There were many who did not want the Games to be awarded to an emerging nation such as India, a predominantly coloured nation. Fennell was bold, courageous and forthright in his support of India, even when some nations were talking about moving the Games and sending their competitors late to the Games.

He was fair and balanced in that he criticised the Indian officials for lack of alacrity. He was not afraid to tell them they were behind schedule. But, most important, he was a calming voice during the turmoil. The Commonwealth Games in India turned out to be the biggest ever, and that is another star in his crown.

Achievement

To be head of the Commonwealth Games is quite an achievement. It is arguable the largest multisport event after the Olympics. The FIFA is a richer organisation and has the largest audience but that is one event with 32 countries competing in the finals. The Commonwealth Games in Delhi had 71 countries participating with 8,000 competitors in 17 different events making this multinational multisport event a real mega spectacle. The event witnessed many Commonwealth records and two world records.

But that is not all. Mike Fennell has also been president of Jamaica Olympic Association for a few decades. Under his leadership, Jamaica made the world take notice at Beijing Olympics, especially through the exploits of Usain Bolt and Veronica Campbell. And there have been other outstanding contributions since his presidency. And we have never heard of Fennell involved in any controversy.

Misbehaviour

The nearest Fennell has been to controversy was when Prime Minister Bruce Golding dismissed him and four others as members of the Public Service Commission (PSC) on the grounds of misbehaviour over the selection of Professor Stephen Vasciannie as solicitor general. In addition, Dr Alfred Sangster, former colleague on the PSC and leading churchman, publicly condemned Fennell and other members of the PSC and defending the actions of the prime minister when he charged that 'PSC misbehaved' (The Gleaner January 29, 2008) This could have destroyed any person but not Fennell. He did not defend his character in the media, nor did he resign from public service.

Attempts were made to humiliate him which could make him want to be a recluse from international sporting fora, but he pressed on to have his most glorious impact at the Delhi Commonwealth Games. The measure of a man is the obstacles he overcomes to achieve greatness. He has endured hardships to be Jamaica's most outstanding sports administrator.

For all those reasons, Mike Fennell deserves an Order of Merit.

Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'The Cross and the Machete: Native Baptists of Jamaica - Identity, Ministry and Legacy'. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com