Jordan Princess impressed with Barbados

BOA president Steve Stoute presenting a scarf to Princess Haya. Looking on: Monique Archer and Princess Haya’s coach Khan Okur. (Picture by Clifton Henry)

By by Clifton Henry | Sat, June 26, 2010 - 12:10 AM

JORDAN’S PRINCESS Haya Bint Al Hussein, president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), flew into the island for a four-hour visit yesterday and met with officials of the Barbados Equestrian Association (BEA).
In a brief interview with the SATURDAY SUN, Princess Haya said it was always her dream to visit Barbados after hearing about the wonderful work of the local federation.
“It is always good to see first-hand what’s happening on the ground in each of the territories, and so far I am very impressed with the enthusiasm and the work the local federation has been doing to advance the sport in Barbados and in the region,” she said.
She also noted that a development task force had been set up within the FEI to see how they could assist smaller nations.
“So for this reason my visit to the Caribbean is more of a fact finding mission to see where the FEI could assist the smaller developing territories in the equestrian sport.”
Princess Haya visited four of the five equestrian centres during her visit, including those at Conga Road, St Philip, Big C Stables at Frere Pilgrim, Christ Church, Whitehall, St Peter, and Caribbean International Riding Centre (CIRC), Cleland, St Andew.
The princess is the daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan and wife of General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
She was a bronze medallist in Jumping at the 1992 Pan-Arab Games and the following year was elected Jordan’s athlete of the year. She also competed in the Sydney Olympics.
She is also the first Arab and first woman to ever become Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme.
The princess left here for Trinidad and Tobago before heading back home.