Another déjà vu ?

The imminent hosting by St Vincent and the Grenadines of matches in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T/20 World Cup in June 2024, brings with it multiple responsibilities from several sectors of the Vincentian society.

As it is, the Arnos Vale One and Two venues, as well as the Sion Hill Playing Field, are set to undergo significant redos and upgrades.

Similarly, the relevant authorities have to ensure that our hospitality, health, entertainment, transportation, emergency and other attending services are operating at an optimum point.

Such preparations bring with them, obstructions to the regular lives of Vincentians.

Specifically, with the playing facilities that are currently out of bounds to users, that can be the biggest bug bear.

Given the time frame, six months should be the wait period as the construction, re-construction and overall delivery of these facilities, many persons will be inconvenienced, whether directly or indirectly.

Yes, most Vincentians would welcome the country being in the spotlight and the possible economic spin offs that are accumulated from hosting at least a fraction of a global Cricket tournament.

But as we embrace the fact that the facilities will be spruced up, as well as the other benefits, there will be a social cost attached to this type of development.

Inevitably, the venues will be inaccessible to the casual users as well as the sportsmen and women, who have higher aspirations of accomplishments. And, list is long, wide and far reaching.

Football clubs, member clubs of the Track and Field fraternity, the SVG Rugby Union, walkers, joggers, people who utilise sporting facilities to past time and distress, will all have to either put their craft on hold or look for alternative venues.

It can be reasoned that the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association national cricket programme, which is often played in the first half of the year, would be severely affected.

Likewise, that growing group of employees who use the facilities to sweat on afternoons can find themselves devoid of that outlet to emit steam and daily frustrations that their jobs accrue.

However, as this column highlights the potential fall outs with the non-availability of the venues, we have not heard from the powers that be of the plans to cushion that period of disruption.

Jogging our memories back to 2006/ 2007 when Arnos Vale, Stubbs and Sion Hill fields underwent extensive rehabilitation, ahead of Cricket World Cup 2007, we saw a marked decline in interest in sports, especially in Stubbs and Sion Hill.

Are we going to see a repeat of 17 years ago?

Hopefully, not, as there ought to be lessons learned from that episode.

One may want to argue that personnel of clubs and organisations should be resourceful enough to seek out alternatives, and not leave it all to those in charge.

Providing that leadership and concern for the citizenry are paramount in the national scheme of responsibility and stewardship.

We cannot allow things to pan out and work themselves with the intent that all is well that ends well.

The need to have our young people engaged in meaningful and productive sporting and physical activities, is compounded by the fact that St Vincent and the Grenadines is experiencing an unprecedented period of homicides.

Therefore, the less time afforded to crime is the best option for our well being and safety.

Sports and any other form of social cohesion are priceless as we seek to counteract the scourges of violence and crime.