We outside too long

Do you know that St Vincent and the Grenadines is missing out on a lot of events, simply because we do not possess an indoor sporting facility? Well, if you didn’t, now you do.

Yes, we are among the few in the Eastern Caribbean that are without an indoor multiplex to host disciplines- namely, Netball, Basketball and Volleyball.

As a consequence, we cannot be considered as a venue for having regional championships come to our shores. More so, those countries that have an indoor facility, are feasting on the opportunities to host, hence are raking in much needed foreign exchange.

So, the likes of Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Saint Lucia, Grenada, and most recently, Dominica are the go-to the territories whenever the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) convenes it championships.

For two weeks, Antigua and Barbuda was the venue for the senior women and senior women championships.

Apart from the spotlight falling on Antigua and Barbuda, over the two week period, a tidy sum was left in that country by way of the sports tourism dollar. When will the policy makers and those with the purse strings acknowledge that an indoor court is a dire need for St Vincent and the Grenadines?

They must be told that save and except the British Virgin Islands and to a lesser extent, Saint Lucia, the indoor facilities are not adorned with sophistication.

These facilities in the main are simple. They are covered, have acceptable seating and the basic amenities.

But they serve their purpose and are helping to produce better players in those sports that are played there.

We have all seen the transformation and interest that have emerged with the commissioning of the Diamond Track Facility in 2020.

Undoubtedly, the construction of the synthetic track has lifted the psyche of our Track and Field athletes, coaches, parents and others.

Again, is the proposed National Stadium complete? No, but the track is being fully utilized, and the positives are accruing.

For certain, the same will be the case with the construction of an indoor multiplex. Once a hot topic, there was much debate on the proposal many years ago, to retrofit the former

Glove Factory Building on Lower Bay Street and turn it into a multi-use Indoor Sports Facility.

Jogging the memory, remember there were designs and impressions what it would have looked like?

Seemingly, that proposition has been thrown out the door, as the site has since housed the Anglican School Annex.

Unfortunately then, there was the issue of parking should an indoor court was placed at the site. But such arguments no longer hold water, as it has been proven that alternatives are applied in such instances when space is limited.

Therefore, we may not have to revisit that particular site years after, but restart the process of ensuring that St Vincent and the Grenadines gets an indoor sporting complex in the shortest possible time frame must again be placed on the front burner as a national undertaking. Covered all weather sporting is the order of the day, as dodging the elements is no longer part of planning for sporting events.

Likewise, reducing the probability of joint injuries is important to the longevity of the physical being of our sportsmen and sportswomen.

This is validated just by taking a look at our netballers who have to endure the agony of the concrete or asphalt on their knees. The end results are support braces, bandages, or even permanent injuries.

Therefore, as was said during the building phase of the Argyle International Airport (AIA), “Build it and they will come”. That is the similar approach that should be adopted relative to the construction of an indoor sports gymnasium for St Vincent and the Grenadines, as once achieved the positive results will take care of themselves.

In fact, the realization of the AIA was a will of fortitude and belief and should be the mantra for anything here is St Vincent and the Grenadines that is seen as far-fetched and unrealistic to accomplish.