Jean Todt, President of FIA, accompanied by his wife Michelle Yeoh, the global ambassador of the Make Roads Safe campaign, left Colombia at the end of last month, as part of a compact,   week-long tour of several Latin American countries. Among the other countries en route were El Salvador, Panama, Cost Rica, Guatemala and finally Mexico.

Selected as one of the 22 elite ambassadors to make this trip alongside FIA President Jean Todt, was Trinidad-born Selwyn Persad, who returned home on Sunday, after the exhaustive week of tour.

On the agenda for this trip, amongst other things, was the promotion of the Campaign for the Decade of Road Safety, launched since April, by the FIA, and Todt emphasized the importance and need for FIA affiliates to support this noteworthy venture. Jean Todt also explained that “The future of Mexican drivers, and in general the Latin Americans, in F-1, was broad, and could go far, but depended on their effort, dedication and the extent that they made the jump to top teams.” Citing their excellent performances in the not so distant past, he added “I think there are many positive prospects for Latino drivers.”

Selwyn Persad, Trustee of the Trinidad and Tobago Automobile Sports Association, Secretary General of NACAM FIA, and also FIA Director of Sport for the English Speaking Caribbean had this to say on his return: “Each country that we visited was unique, but I did note that there was one common, striking similarity  – most of those countries did have the support and blessings of their respective governmental bodies, not only with respect to the competitive element, but also when it came to this, matters of Road safety, which affects everyone, not only competitors, but also the average man on the street.”

He  added “It was great being part of this Latin American tour because traveling to these countries I had a chance to hear how the epidemic that is the lack of Road Safety affects lives. And as part of the visiting delegation, calling on these international communities to recognize this as a serious issue, we were in a manner, offering solutions that could alleviate and reduce the traffic deaths and injuries.”

“Having seen the terrible impact that a lack of basic road safety can have on people’s lives, I find these tragedies to be heart-rending, and even more so, unnecessary, because we have, through proper education and programs, the ability to prevent this. Furthermore, with the amount of carnage on OUR streets presently, I would say it would be good to follow suit, since Road and Car Safety, and Good Driving Practices should not only be issues promoted by the motor sport fraternities, but also endorsed, supported and promulgated by the appropriate bodies here at home too.”

From all counts, the FIA Latin American tour was carded as a great success by all the countries visited, but for the true motor sport enthusiasts and hopefuls here at home, we can only hope that should in the very near future, such a prestigious delegation come to our shores, that this would help in the resurrection and resuscitation of motor sport in our beloved country.