San Fernando City Council Seeking To Block Sale Of Medals Of Trinidad’s First Olympic Winner

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Mar. 28, (CMC) – The San Fernando City Corporation (SFCC) says, it is taking legal action to prevent the sale of medals, won by Trinidad and Tobago’s first Olympic medalist, Rodney Wilkes, who died on March 24, 2014.

The former weightlifter won a bronze medal at the 1948 Olympics in London, and at the 1952 Olympics at Helsinki.

The “Mighty Midget” as he was also known, won medals at the Pan American Games, the Central American and Caribbean Games, as well as the British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

Bids for the Helsinki 1952 bronze medal for weightlifting closed off on eBay at an asking price of US$30,500.’

In a statement, the Mayor of San Fernando, Kazim Hosein, said, the City Corporation is taking legal action against the sale of the medal, and that the Chief Executive Officer, Indarjit Singh, has already met with law enforcement officials to discuss the possibility of stopping the sale.

“Mr. Wilkes entrusted the medals to the City Corporation, as he had full faith in its ability to find a suitable place for their display, as part of San Fernando’s cultural and sporting heritage. The SFCC loaned the medals to the late Mr. Louis Homer, a former journalist and historian, who displayed the medals as part of a small museum, dedicated to San Fernando’s history.

“Since Louis Homer’s death, however, the medals have changed hands without the knowledge of the SFCC. According to the rules governing the sale of items on eBay, property owners, who believe their items are being sold without permission, are required to report the matter to their local law enforcement agencies,” the release said.

Hosein said, he was disappointed that Wilkes’ legacy might be sullied by those seeking personal gain, noting, that Wilkes was a national athlete and a valued employee of the Corporation, who, at the very minimum, deserved to have his wish for his treasured medals fulfilled.

Last week, Wilkes’ daughter, Grace Wilkes-Worsley, told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper, that her father wanted the medals returned, and her brother tried, on three occasions, to get them back from Homer.

However, it was never done and, she said, the auction has caused great distress to her family.