No deliberate attempt to disrespect me – Minister of Sports

Minister of Sports Cecil McKie says that he does not think that he was disrespected after being omitted from the list of speakers at the closing of the Windward Islands School Games last Saturday.{{more}}

According to McKie, the event was organized by the Ministry of Education and he does not think that there was any deliberate attempt by anyone to disrespect him.

He said that he had spoken at the opening ceremony and he was asked to present medals at the closing.

That was his response after some people were of the opinion that McKie was snubbed and not allowed to speak at the closing ceremony held at the West St George Secondary School.

McKie, although being seated at the head table, was not called on to deliver closing remarks and prompted comments from members of the public as well as Unity Labour Party (ULP) officials.

According to the director of Grenadines Affairs, Edwin Snagg who had called in on a radio talk show on Tuesday, he believes that the omission of the Minister was deliberate and an orchestrated attempt to embarrass McKie.

“In truth, the Minister of Sports is the ‘jefe’ sitting at the head table – based on the fact that the deputy prime minister was there; this was a sporting event,” Snagg said when he called in to the programme.

He continued, saying that this issue was something that should not be taken lightly.

Snagg referred to an incident which occurred in 2012 during the Australia tour of the Caribbean, when it was alleged that McKie had clashed with security officials at one of the One-Day Internationals between West Indies and Australia, played at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

An article which appeared in the local press alleged that McKie, Clayton Burgin, Minister of Health and Snagg abused security guards as they attempted to enter sections of the Arnos Vale Playing Field and that Burgin and McKie became angry when they were asked to present their tickets or passes.

“These are things that we must not take for granted,” Snagg said.

“They say that you musn’t be arrogant, but sometimes you need to display some arrogance,” he continued.

SEARCHLIGHT attempted to contact at least two members of the games organizing committee – Beverly Neptune and Keith Joseph; however, Neptune declined to comment on the issue and SEARCHLIGHT was informed that Joseph was out of the country.