Shane Cadogan says Ambassador appointment will help with plans

This country’s youngest diplomat Shane Cadogan, 22, says he will use his appointment as a sporting ambassador as an additional tool in his push to build a better St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) through sports.

Cadogan’s appointment was made public last Friday, Independence Day, October 27, by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

The announcement of the only sporting ambassador for 2023, came at Victoria Park during the PM’s address on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of Independence. The address was dubbed, “SVG is on the right track despite external burdens and some domestic challenges”.

Gonsalves said Cadogan, a national swimmer and national scholar has been, through his non-governmental organisation, doing yeoman’s work in assisting and mentoring young persons in their athletic and educational pursuits.

On Monday, Cadogan, in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT, thanked God and the persons he said have given him support on his educational and sporting journey. The founder of Athletes in Action (AiA) is the son of banker Andre Cadogan and dentist Dr Simone France and brother of Paige Cadogan.

“I think the appointment basically touches on what I try to do every day which is do my best to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines in any capacity that I can.

“As an ambassador, I think that gives me a great opportunity to make a change and that comes with the teamwork with Athletes in Action and it involves people moving towards the betterment of the youth and the country,” Cadogan told SEARCHLIGHT.

He said his aim is to make sure that everyone understands that sports can drive change in many areas and can be used to propel youths whether they become pro athletes, get the opportunity to further their studies or just remain healthy.

“Sports is something that can encompass so many other things, so I am very grateful not only to be an ambassador, but the youngest one.

“I think that (his appointment) represents the talent in St Vincent and the Grenadines and I hope to show there is much more talent and people can be better and achieve more than I have, even at a younger age than me,” Cadogan offered.

The Ratho Mill resident is currently a medical school candidate studying at the Florida International University (FIU) where he is doing a pre-medical program. He graduated from Stanford University last June with a degree in human biology with a concentration in sports and human performance.

Cadogan holds five national swimming records including the record for the 50 metre freestyle, the 50 metre breast stroke and the 100 metre breast stroke.

He is a past student of the Windsor Primary School, the St Mary’s Roman Catholic School, the St Vincent Grammar school and the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC).

During the PM’s address, he also named two new cultural ambassadors, Lornette “Fya Empress” Nedd, veteran calypsonian and current Calypso Monarch; and Phillip “Wetty Beatz” Dembar-Bastien, singer and producer from Union Island, now based in Europe.