Another damning episode

The incidents which led to the St Vincent Grammar School pulling out of the United Insurance Secondary Schools’ Cricket Competition, are nothing short of damning and an episode of incompetence in relation to those responsible for the administration of the yearly exercise.{{more}}

But, it is the Grammar School which felt the brunt of the inefficiencies plaguing this year’s competition thus far.

The school only played one match, after having turned up to play on at least five occasions.

Understandably, the Grammar School must have opponents, and they too would have been affected in one way or another.

The straw that broke the camel’s back, however, was what happened last Monday, at the Sion Hill Playing Field. When the St Vincent Grammar School and the St Martin’s Secondary School turned up for their match, they only met the groundsmen watering the pitch.

Incidentally, the same thing occurred at the North Union Playing Field, when the scheduled teams showed up at that venue.

Obviously, such a tale of inconveniences would have irked even the most reserved of persons.

The constant uncertainty of the matches meant that the students, whom they often say are the centrality of their focus, are the ones who are missing out on the much needed instructional time, because of the many postponements.

Hence the decision by the headship of the Grammar School, and justifiably so, which unfortunately has robbed some students of the opportunity not only to represent the school at cricket, but of showcasing their talents on a wider scale among their peers.

Also, the young impressionable minds could be unforgiving of those who are cheating them of avenues which can take them places.

Some may never forget those who altered the course of their potential cricket career in a direction they never envisaged.

School will always be the learning ground for the opening up of avenues, and a dent in one’s psyche could result in those same youngsters walking away from the sport altogether.

The Grammar School’s plight simply brings to the fore, the visible lapses in coordination between the organisers and the National Sports Council, who are the custodians of the playing fields across St Vincent and the Grenadines. The situation is pathetic, to put it mildly.

Last Monday’s incident joined the list of mounting faux pas made for the past month or so since the competition began.

Another sore point is the late start of matches.

Reports say that there has been constant chopping and changing of the fixtures, which has led to the many mix-ups and a general disinterest in the competition.

This pitiful state of the competition did not begin this year, but is a continuation of what obtained in last year’s edition.

However, one would have thought that lessons from the previous year’s mistakes would have been corrected this time around.

We seem, however, not to be paying attention to the legacy that this United Insurance Secondary Schools’ Cricket Competition has left since its inception.

Similarly, no one seems mindful of the opportunity cost, which comes with the long-standing relationship with the sponsor and the ministry, which undertakes to administer the competition.

And, in this time when money is hard to come by, and sponsorship of sports, especially at the school level, is at a premium, guarding one’s territorial privilege should be an army type operation.

It is unfortunate too, especially for a competition which has been the breeding ground for many students, some of whom have gone on to play cricket at the highest level for the West Indies.

The likes of Cameron Cuffy and Nixon Mc Lean, who have gone on to represent the regional team at the test level, showed their early promise at this said competition several years ago.

In arresting the situation, the relevant authorities need to ensure that for the rest of the competition, all bases are covered and that the organizational set-up is in place to prevent recurrences of what has been unfolding.

Ultimately, it may better serve all concerned that the 2014 competition be shelved, and they come fresh in 2015, with new ideas and better prepared school teams.