(L-R) Dean of the Faculty of Sport, Dr Akshai Mansingh; Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the UWI Mona, Professor Dale Webber; President of the NPAJ, Mr Michael Blair and 2nd Vice President of the NPAJ, Mr. Richard Radcliffe – all pictured at the signing ceremony for the  MOU which took place at The UWI Mona on Thursday, July 15, 2021

UWI and NPAJ sign MOU to boost the development of powerlifting in Jamaica

The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Mona Academy of Sports (UWIMAS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Power Lifting Association of Jamaica Ltd (NPAJ) to establish a framework for a strategic partnership for the development and promotion of powerlifting to enhance human resource development and promote health and wellness for the social and economic benefit of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean societies.

The signing took place at The UWI Mona on Thursday, July 15, 2021.

Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the UWI Mona, Professor Dale Webber said the University is pleased and proud to be in this partnership. He added that he has always been a believer in sports being essential to the well rounded student.

The UWIMAS, he added, is pleased to work with all entities and all associations that want to advance sports in the country. “The NPAJ is an association that is going to bring the UWIMAS an opportunity to do more to support athletes.”

Speaking at the signing ceremony, President of the NPAJ, Mr Michael Blair stated: “I’m very happy for this opportunity. The association is just six months old and having UWI as a partner is a blessing because they represent a part of the strong foundation we intend to have. We want to ensure that the athletes have the best opportunity to perform at the highest level and I think the signing of this MOU is the way to achieve this.”

The purpose of this agreement is to identify the roles and responsibilities of each party as they relate to: sports medicals, musculoskeletal and fitness evaluations for players being screened for all national teams and the management of injured national players during training or competition. Further, under the agreement, The UWI will be lending expertise of UWIMAS staff to the medical committee of the NPAJ. The UWIMAS will also provide management of injuries for players who are registered with NPAJ at a discounted rate. The MOU also establishes a framework and a legal basis for future specific Agreements or Contracts, which respond to proposals from NPAJ, and UWIMAS in respect to management and treatment of injured NPAJ athletes. 

Speaking to the importance of the agreement to the Faculty of Sport at The UWI Mona, Dean of the Faculty, Dr Akshai Mansingh said “Partnering with a national organization is always one of the goals and is of benefit to the Faculty of Sport in terms of being able to supply or service the needs of those Associations. Partnering with a relatively new Association is even more exciting as we actually help formulate plans, execute programmes and we can grow together as we are a relatively young Faculty, they are a new Association.”

Among the responsibilities of the UWIMAS under this agreement are that the Academy will manage acute and chronic Injuries of national players at the agreed concessionary rate at the UWI Sports Medicine Clinic. The Academy will also provide management for acute and chronic injuries for all other NPAJ members who are in good standing with the organization at a discounted rate.

The agreement will be in effect for one year and is renewable on terms agreed by the parties.

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(Source: Internal Communique, Mona Messaging Centre)