May all be well

The official sporting calendar of the 2025-2026 academic year has been announced. From the evidence of the intentions of the Department of Sport and Physical Activity, within the Ministry of Housing, Informal Human Settlements, Youth and Sports, there seems to be that thrust to make a dent, and detour from what has been the norm of the past.

There appears to be a structured approach vis-à-vis planning and execution of the various disciplines, with greater emphasis on stewardship and measured outcomes as priorities.

Whilst it is early days in the process, anything that is worth given a try must be lauded, as change is constant and inevitable.

Hopefully, ten months from now, one would be showering praises on the department for its efforts, and ultimately a visible uptick in performance all round. Hence, what is expected is an exceedingly high level of professionalism from all stakeholders. Once pursued and realized, then the various competitions should not just be for fulfilling the ministry’s mandate and responsibilities, but outlets for talent identification. But as the department embarks on rolling out their activities, the major players and stakeholders must first get their act together and detox themselves from the personality gripes that are triggering acute administrative constipation.

The top will continue to spin in mud, and no end in sight, should the personnel in that department and by extension, the ministry not get their act together and provide the nation’s student-athletes with the guidance and role models needed.

This column in August of this year lamented on the discord among members of the department that resulted in St Vincent and the Grenadines obtaining a poor grading for its hosting of the 2025 Canadian Bank Note/ Winlott Inc multi-discipline Windward Islands Schools Games. To top it off, the St Vincent and the Grenadines team was equally sub-standard like the administrators, finishing at the bottom among the four islands.

The Vincentians’ output capped off a hat-trick of last places, 2019, 2023 and 2025, as there were no games in the other years. Despite such ventilation and reports of the inherent issues, things have gone from bad to worse, as the fight for stake has gone up a notch with no end apparently forthcoming.

For some, it is a continuum that has plagued the department for a number of years, whilst schools’ sports suffer from neglect.

Come what may, something must be done to uproot the causes within the Department of Sport and Physical

Activity. As they linger and procrastinate, mayhem is inching its way into the scheme of things as the political directorate is either oblivious or careless of the happenings in the department.

Is that the scant regard the authorities have for the sporting wellbeing of the student- athletes of St Vincent and the Grenadines?

Optimistically, no; however, the longer the matter is left unattended, the greater the festering and more costly would be the corrective surgery.

Those at the top of the political hierarchy must not compromise and let political patronage and the greater good escape through their nonchalant reactions.

Likewise, the key members within the department must do some introspection and respond accordingly, as their actions are the minefield of the issues surrounding the lacklustre discharge of their duties.

Little will be achieved if the vexing, untenable situation prevails untethered. Urgent actions are warranted as things are suffocating to the detriment of nation’s youths and the respective disciplines.

It is the profound desire of this column that things change for the better, soonest. May all be well!