Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
On Target
July 27, 2012

Back it up, Ces

The recent pronouncement by this country’s Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture Hon. Cecil “Ces” McKie at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation’s prize-giving ceremony that “sports is the answer” to many of the social issues, is timely and instructive.{{more}}

Not that McKie had made a novel statement of philosophical heft but, being in the dynamic ministry in which he has been placed, his statement holds enormous accountability.

Whether or not McKie was simply speaking to get applause from the audience, or was speaking rhetoric suited for the occasion is irrelevant at this time, as it is a statement of fact.

So, McKie, you have said it. Now, back up your mouth with the fervour, commitment and fortitude of the mind, which could assist in cushioning some of the costs incurred from some of the social erosion that we are experiencing.

Here, you have in your hands the tools of the trade to make things happen.

We are cognizant that neither, you, your ministry, nor St Vincent and the Grenadines have a bottomless receptacle of money to fund the national sporting programme. But with the correct political will on your part, mountains can be moved.

To begin, the mere configuration of your ministry shows sports at the centrality of your responsibilities. Therefore, it should take its rightful role.

With sports as the focal point in this discourse, you have to get the things right in that ministry first up.

Getting the right personnel with the technical capabilities to move the several programmes forward is of critical importance.

Also, the idea being bandied about that your ministry wants to take over school sports has to be a case of biting off more than you can chew, as your offices simply do not have the capacity.

Instead, you should be the catalyst to promote a more harmonious relationship with the other ministries and national associations to make school sports meaningful in the life of the students.

Sports and tourism are perfect twins towards national progress and economic development.

This is not to construe sports and tourism as a kiss-hand undertaking. But you are in a position to influence policies, which are tailor-made to promote such a concept.

So, Mr McKie, here you can use your good offices to ensure investigations into the executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation, regarding the true status of its Goal Project at the Brighton Playing Field.

This is of interest to everyone, as central government facilitated the lease of the land on which the structure is being built.

This well-intended project should create a pathway for the hosting of teams from overseas for football activities and can also serve as a hostel for visiting teams.

Indeed, as you are aware, the high cost of travel, coupled with accommodation, is warding off such visits. A relief in the area of hospitality will have a pull factor for prospective visitors to these shores for recreational and sporting purposes.

In the area of culture, your ministry is conveniently poised to incorporate all facets of your duties, obviously with sports being the main attraction.

But in all your prospective doing, in putting real flesh and meaning to your pronouncement, McKie, it is imperative for you to have open dialogue with most sporting associations, as very few are without sin and are being crippled by internal wrangling.

A purging, a cleansing of the toxins, which are spreading intravenously through these associations, warrants an immediate dose of antibiotics, before they become totally lifeless.

This is certainly an instructive process that must we must undergo if we have to go forward.

This is notwithstanding that other sectors of our society can and do play a part in soothing the social abrasions. But sports is a vital conduit, as it touches many lives in one shot.

Finally, let not mouthing be empty sayings; hence, in all your planning, let your statement: “Sports is the answer” be your mantra, while you remain in that portfolio.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Villa woman in  hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Front Page
    Villa woman in hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Police are said to be carrying out investigations into the stabbing of Rafia Sardine, a 20-year-old female of Villa. Reports are that Sardine, a FLOW ...
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Front Page
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    In St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), an analysis has found that the most hacked government entity was the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Polic...
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Front Page
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Leaders of Governments and institutions from countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the continent of Africa, gathered at the weekend for ...
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Front Page
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is proud of the persons in his constituency who continue to aim for higher education. Dr Gonsalves is the parliame...
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Front Page
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A van conductor, who beat his five- months pregnant ex-girlfriend after she refused to get back with him, has been remanded pending sentencing. Onez J...
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    From the Courts, News
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A Lowman’s Hill man who struck another villager in his head with a piece of steel will know his fate tomorrow, September 10, 2025. Kevin Roberts, 25, ...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok