Last Thursday February, 22, 2024 St Vincent and the Grenadines, along with other host nations barring Saint Lucia, officially launched the 2024 ICC Men’s Twenty/20 Cricket World Cup which bowls off in the USA and the Caribbean in June. The launch took place simultaneously in Dallas, Miami, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and also signalled the start of the remaining 100 days to go before the first ball is bowled. Saint Lucia hosted their event on Saturday February, 24, due to Thursday February, 22, being that country’s independence anniversary.

Speaking at Thursday’s event at Heritage Square Minister of Sports, Frederick Stephenson told those attending and those viewing the event live: “In early April 2023, Cricket West Indies invited the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to bid for the right to become an official host country for the 2024 ICC Men’s T/20 World Cup. An official host country will be entitled to commercial rights to promote and showcase its destinations to millions of people who will be watching the games live, in person or via various broadcast platforms across the globe.”

Fyah Empress performing on Thursday afternoon (photo by Robertson S Henry)

Minister Stephenson said that Cabinet immediately established a committee to prepare the necessary documentation to facilitate the submission of a bid to Cricket West Indies for two Super 8 matches that was submitted in May, 2023.

“…we, first of all as a government, bid for two Super 8 matches but we were successful in ensuring that St Vincent and the Grenadines have five games of the ICC 2024 World Cup. In late October, the Cabinet approved the administrative arrangement for the sum of $32 million.”

Minister for Tourism, Carlos James appealed to locals to play their part in the success of the games.

“How do you as Vincentians play a part of this? One, every single one of you as Vincentians, we have to be tourism ambassadors. Very soon we’ll be in our communities with the roadshow promoting the ICC T/20 in our schools and working with our communities to ensure that we build the momentum going into June of all the games. What it is that we have to offer as a country and a destination? he queried.

“We are ensuring that we build our facilities, we put the necessary resources in place to accommodate international games so that our young cricketers, they too will have the opportunity to see this magnificent display of cricket talent, but also can learn something in terms of professionalism and work.”

Sports Minister Frederick Stephenson addressing the launch ceremony (photo by Robertson S Henry)

In his turn at the podium, Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves spoke of the historical context of the impact cricket has had on the Caribbean. “I’m hoping the West Indies will do well enough so that they will be here for one of the semifinals. It would be fantastic if we have them playing against India or England or Australia- one of the big ones now. I’m asking everybody in St. Vincent and Grenadines to get very enthusiastic about our hosting these games…at least this leg of the games. We need to make our own contribution to the upliftment of West Indies cricket. I always tell everybody that this region of five, six million people…we dominated a world sport for 15 years…and cricket for us is not only a sport, cricket has been historically an instrument of our people’s liberation.”

The Prime Minister said a lot of people don’t grasp this.

“Football, important as it is, was not an instrument of liberation…during colonialism and the plantation economy, first the slaves, and then the freed slaves were able more or less to be on an equal footing with the planters and on the playing field …they were able to demonstrate their own ability and use that very sport to assist in equality, in freedom, in liberation, and that’s important for us to understand the historic importance of cricket.”

Speaking on the EC$33 million earmarked for the various upgrades, Prime Minister Gonsalves continued, “when people say to me…the money which you are spending on this World Cup you ain’t gonna make it back… the dance can’t pay for the lights… well, people who talk like that know the price of everything and the value of nothing. We have to get the young men and the young women enthused to the highest level for cricket, and Cricket World Cup has to bring them”.

Alston Beckett Cyrus performing many of his well know hits on Thursday afternoon (photo by Robertson S Henry)

He said he was not looking at the expenditure being recouped “It is a legacy and it is linked to our history and our struggle for self-affirmation, self-mastery and for continuation of the process of liberation. I want all of us, not only in St. Vincent and in Grenadines, but across the Caribbean, to take this World Cup, take it to your bosom…embrace it with your full spirit and with love.”

Thursday’s launch also saw performances from performances by Dr Alston Beckett Cyrus, Fyah Empress, and Hans John as part of the entertainment package enjoyed by the large, appreciative crowd.