Usain Bolt Had A Permit For His Birthday Party
It has come to light that a permit was actually granted for legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt to host his birthday party on August 21, 2020. Such news comes after much criticism regarding the irresponsibility of such an event when Jamaica has been experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Jamaica’s Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony McLaughlin on Monday revealed that the permit was granted by the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).
During his birthday party, Bolt and his guests were captured on video dancing without wearing masks or maintaining social distancing. Bolt, who was celebrating his 34th birthday at the Football Factory in Kingston, was tested at home a day later in anticipation of a business trip overseas. Bolt was confirmed positive for the coronavirus on August 24.
Following the party, Prime Minister of Jamaica, Most Honourable Andrew Holness, said at a virtual press conference at Jamaica House in Kingston, that an investigation would follow and that no special treatments would be meted out to anyone.
“There are a number of pictures and videos that have been circulating of parties with no mask-wearing, no social distancing, etc… There is also an activity relating to Usain Bolt. Now, these matters are all being thoroughly investigated, and the police will give a report on the matter in the near future,” he had said.
“No one is going to be treated with any exemption, so all Jamaicans have a duty, and those who have public ear and influence in the public sphere have an even greater (responsibility),” he warned.
While there was temperature screening, mandatory sanitization, and mask-wearing upon entry, social-distancing and mask protocols were later ignored as evidenced in the videos that were posted on social media.
A number of pro athletes, including Manchester City star Raheem Sterling and Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey, were in attendance however, the presence of Sterling, who last played for his England-based club on August 15 in the Champions League, and Bailey, who featured for German club Leverkusen in their Europa League loss on August 10, indicated that the mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement for overseas visitors was not observed.
ACP McLaughlin also told Radio Jamaica that he is still awaiting a response from the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) to determine whether international footballers Leon Bailey and Raheim Sterling were in breach of the 14-day mandatory quarantine order.
Christopher Martin, Munga Honorebel, Ding Dong, and former national footballer Ricardo “Bibi” Gardner—all of whom have a song on Bolt’s Summer 2019 Olympe Rose riddim were also in attendance. Martin’s manager Lyndon “Kingy” Lettman, revealed later that the entertainer tested negative for the virus and that he went into self-isolation having learnt of Bolt’s test results.
Ding Dong and Desha Ravers also revealed their negative test results.
“Yes my people, I did a COVID-19 test and since then, I’ve been in isolation, in self quarantine awaiting my results. I was contacted by the St Andrew Health Department, where they notified me that the results came out negative, so there’s no corona here,” Ding Dong said in a video message.