End of year hope

As we put a wrap on 2024, it has been another year of ups and downs for St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), in all spheres of life.

We have grappled with Hurricane Beryl, flash floods, trough systems, terrible heat waves, rising prices of commodities and services, an uptick in criminal activities, as well as the constant homicides, primarily- gun violence.

As a people, in general, we have become intolerant, short fused, hot headed, resulting in conflict used as the route to the solution for any sort of discord. Too, the effects of social media have given rise to the once camaraderie that Vincentians were known to possess as their innate trait and mantra. Unfortunately, sports in general, has gotten tangled in the web of degradation, providing some sense of despair. As a consequence, some of the societal issues hit home as sportsmen and women were among the dragnet of despondency.

In 2024, and before this year, several of the incidents that made the rounds in the news media, involved sportsmen and women. Yes, they are part of the Vincentian society, whenever they fall prey to divergence, shines light on the impact, or lack thereof, that their involvement in sports is having on their lives. Through the concerns, though, we can just look at the bright side of 2024 for St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the efforts of Shafiqua Maloney at the Olympic Games in Paris, France.

To jolt people’s memories, Maloney reached the final of the Women’s 800m. It was the first time that a Vincentian was reaching the final in the Olympics. Thus, she was also the first Vincentian female athlete to even to reach the semi-finals.

More so, Maloney was just mere hundredths of a second from a bronze medal at least as she docked in fourth.

To add to her feat, it was the best placing for a female athlete from the English- Speaking Caribbean in the event over the years of hosting the famed Olympic Games.

Her accomplishments, though, were a testament of her inner courage, resilience and fortitude not to give in nor give up, but to push with the hope of a better day. Maloney’s story can be used as a test piece and reference point for our young people who are lured to traverse the wrong side of the law, rather than tough it out, or seek help whenever they are being tempted. This is not to say that everyone is blessed with the same levels of discretion that they would turn away from deviance, as some are hell bent on a life of criminality.

Therefore, those who can be fixed, and are willing to detour and walk the straight and narrow, efforts must be expended on them.

Amidst the hopelessness that seems to pervade, let the Christmas season be that fillip, the game-changer, the time of joy and season to recalibrate, refocus, and face life’s hurdles that may seem insurmountable. Hope lies within everyone who seeks it, as we endeavour to change the course of direction that our society is heading to at break neck speed.

Vincentians have a profound part of their National Anthem to hold close to their heart. Hence, “Whate’er the future brings, our faith will see us through”, must be the tag-line when the going gets tough. In spite of what we are experiencing, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all!!