Backward Ever!

For the second week in succession, this column has been forced into again highlighting the backward and counterproductive decision made by the relevant authorities to close the Diamond Track Facility during this month of February.

As was stated in the previous exposition, February is the beehive of Track and Field among the schools, as well as for the national governing body of the sport- Team Athletics SVG.

The month too is when preparations for young athletes- namely for the Junior Carifta Games- are at their zenith, as coaches endeavour to give their charges the best opportunity to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines at the regional Track and Field show piece.

This year 2024 brought heightened fever, as coupled with the incremental growth in Track and Field and the fact that the Carifta Games are set for nearby, Grenada, the prospects of more athletes being afforded an outlet to represent the country loomed large.

Not forgoing that the Development Meets thus far for the year, staged by Team Athletics on the Saturday afternoons have come as staples for many families.

Hence, the news of the facility’s closure would have come as a surprise to many and thrown the plans of schools into an immediate tailspin.

This, as there was no consultation with the other stakeholders, thus causing instant uneasiness and administrative headaches for schools that would have already planned and crafted activities for their Inter- House scheduled for that venue.

Obviously, many have become accustomed to the use of the Diamond Track since its commissioning in 2020.

Therefore, affected persons would have made pleas for a rethink or compromise on the stance taken, but these have fallen on deaf ears, as the decision is undoubtedly cast in concrete.

At the core of the closure is the continued construction of the roofs of the bleachers and some other repairs/ additions to the facility.

It is understandable that running improvements are needed, such though is not priority at this time.

Neither is one saying that covering the bleachers is not important, but there are alternatives that could have been put in place to ensure that the developments take place, with little disruptions to the Track and Field Programme within the time frame.

One would have readily accepted that were the track itself posing a threat to the safety of our athletes and it had to undergo urgent remains, then that would have been more plausible.

But critically too, somewhere, persons in authority seem to have their plans in reverse, as their mere actions and decisions substantiate this assessment.

Is covering the bleachers priority over the provision of change room and proper toilet and bathroom facilities for athletes, officials and patrons alike?

Those with the purse strings and authority in national decision making think contrarily.

They, in their ignorance see nothing wrong in obstructing the flow of Track and Field development in St Vincent and the Grenadines as trivial.

So, the compromise for the closure of the Diamond Track Facility is the offer of the Victoria Park, as a substitute.

That too possesses inherent challenges as that venue will undoubtedly receive a pounding over the next few weeks, as the crammed schedule goes into unexpected effect.

Then, there is the unwise decision to host the Zonal Preliminaries of the Inter- Primary Schools Athletics Championships at the Victoria Park, the Campden Park and Chili playing fields.

Indeed, a level playing field is not assured as variances in the conditions at these venues would affect the student- athletes’ performance.

Sadly, the ‘be thankful for small mercies’ cannot be applied in this instance.

Such scant treatment of our youth population is nothing short of disrespect for their emerging talents.

It is the same athletes who those in key positions of national administration tout to love and are the centrality of future plans, programmes and policies.

Yet, their psyches are disrupted by decisions that can have far reaching effects in the long term as they as expected to turn blind eyes and forget what was meted out to them.

And, while the authorities would have erected the impermeable wall with respect to their decision, this column too is unmoved, concluding that it is BACKWARD !