More positives than negatives

The announcement last Friday, September 22, 2023, that St Vincent and the Grenadines will be among host countries for the 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) T/20 World Cup, was greeted with mixed emotions.

Beyond the inevitable downsides, St Vincent and the Grenadines will be part of the largest ever ICC event, as the June 4 to 30 Cricket involves 20 countries.

St Vincent and the Grenadines thus joins other Caribbean territories – Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago in hosting the event.

Co- hosted by the United States, the seven Caribbean territories will have US cities, Texas in Dallas; Nassau County, New York; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida to complement them.

Up front, by virtue of St Vincent and the Grenadines’ selection, it means that this country met the criteria of the bidding process, as laid down by the sport’s governing body – the ICC.

This in itself is a plus to all who were engaged in the putting together the documents that were able to get the nod from the ICC officials.

Therefore, it is now for us to look ahead and put the necessary systems in place to ensure that St Vincent and the Grenadines delivers an experience for all to savour.

Early reports are that St Vincent and the Grenadines would host four matches.

Irrespective to the fixtures, proper and detailed planning must be the hallmark of the Local Organising Committee’s mantra, whenever that management unit is configured.

With St Vincent and the Grenadines being a host, this places financial implications on the coffers of the country.

Yes, we are living in some beyond challenging economic times, and any diversions of already scare financial resources would exacerbate the prevailing conditions.

But, we have to look further than the possible budget that could run into double digit millions of Eastern Caribbean dollars.

Investing in hosting of tournaments like the T/20 World Cup is not cheap, hence we have already taken the plunge, and making the best of our decision is utmost.

As the pros and cons are still being weighed, it must be borne in mind that any extraordinary expenditure would come with an opportunity cost and should be understood that the cost borne by the government at this time are investments for future benefits.

No one then should be looking for St Vincent and the Grenadines to have an immediate windfall during June of next year, when the matches come around.

This is not to say that there would not be an increase in economic benefits during the course of our hosting, but the multiplier effect will definitely take time.

Many narratives are out there that several countries who have hosted major sporting events, they are now reaping the benefits of their investments, years after.

That is the simple economics, but that level of understanding is lacking, instead of the partisan political obstructive, pervasive modes of operation and mentality have taken presence, in preference to reasoning.

There is much for the country to benefit in the short, medium and long terms.

Among them are improvements in our sporting infrastructure, as expected, the show piece venue- the Arnos Vale Playing Field would have a facelift as well as other sprucing up.

Likewise, the opening up of St Vincent and the Grenadines to others who may not know it, is an advertisement worth its weight in gold.

In the short term, our hotels are expected to be filled as visitors will jet across to St Vincent and the

Grenadines, following the tournament and their respective teams.

It is also noteworthy that the ICC World T/20 World Cup comes at a period when the country’s hotel rooms’ stock is on the increase.

Evidently, the vision is being pieced together and crystallised, as an international airport, more hotels, enhanced Cricket facilities, augurs well for more teams and visitors, to make St Vincent and the

Grenadines, their preferred destination in the near future.

Of note too, is the life-long training that all sectors of the Vincentian society would receive, as they will be better equipped with the know-how of putting on events with mass participation, international standards and requirements, as for global audiences.

Hence, the idea of the country hosting should now be sold as a national undertaking, whereby all should play their part in making our input successful.

It is everyone’s duty to show their love for country, exhibit nationalism from here on in, as St Vincent and the Grenadines seeks to maximise from its returns from investing in hosting World Cup matches in June of 2024.