The grandfather of the fastest woman in the world, St Lucia’s Julien Alfred, says he is overjoyed by what she will receive from government for her incredible performance at the Olympics.
“Words can’t describe how I feel. It’s the first time I see any government stand behind an individual so much,” Bertrand Fevriere, a resident of Vieux-Fort, told Loop News.
Among some of the gifts she will receive, which Prime Minister Philip Pierre described as a small token of appreciation, are $1 million, along with additional prizes.
In addition to the million dollars, the Millennium Highway from Cul De Sac to La Toc Roundabout will be renamed the Julien Alfred Highway, a monument of Alfred will be constructed at the Cul De Sac Roundabout, and a piece of land measuring 10,720 square feet will be given to her.
An official stamp and exercise book with photos of Alfred will be made.
Fevriere described his granddaughter’s performance at the Olympics as an amazing feat which has made all St Lucians proud.
“There is nothing you can appreciate more than that,” Fevriere said, adding that he expects her to bring more success for St Lucia in the future.
He said one of the root causes of her athletic prowess lies in the family, adding that all the children he raised with his wife were good athletes at school.
“It’s not a fluke, it comes from somewhere,” Fevriere said.
His message to his granddaughter is to continue doing what she is doing to make St Lucia greater.
“I do not want anything from her, I just want her to continue making St Lucia proud,” Fevriere said.
According to him, the last time he saw his granddaughter, prior to Wednesday, was sometime last year, and it was a joy to see her last week in Vieux-Fort.
Fevriere recounted an unfortunate incident on Wednesday when he tried to reach out to her in Vieux Fort, but was stopped from doing so by the police, who he said moments later apologized to him after being told that he is her granddaughter.
He subsequently was given a chance to speak to her, but was unable to touch her.
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