Hoping against Hope

The bell has rung, paving the way for nationals of St Vincent and the Grenadines to go to the polls on Thursday, November 27, 2025.

Yes, whilst the five-year civic exercise is nothing new to the Vincentian psyche, this one is the big one, and can be deemed the “Mother” of all national elections since the country gained Universal Adult Suffrage in 1951.

It is the case, as St Vincent and the Grenadines has emerged as an all year round politically charged piece of real estate that everything is politicised one way or the other.

Unfortunately, our country has become polarized, hence, many decisions hinge on political affiliations, whilst spite and vindictiveness are now accepted and represented as normal courses of behavioural actions.

But as the main political parties and their band of supporters jostle for the top position of winning the right to govern St Vincent and the Grenadines, the show must go on in sports.

However, this column is not hopeful that, given the current political climate, sporting events staged during the month of November will be administered seamlessly, with little hiccups because of the high tension in which the state will be operating.

Schools’ Football and Netball, as well as the planned implementation of a “semi- professional” Football League among the 10 Tier One (Premier Division) clubs.

Off course, playing fields will be utilized for political rallies as the campaigning momentum intensifies and gets fever pitch.

As things get hotter and the electioneering goes up exponentially, care for schools’ Football, goes through the window, as getting into office or staying in office predominates the two main political parties.

With that envisaged, no one expects any shifts in the fixtures, but a drag on and protracted process.

But the bad speculation this column has is that political sabotage can become part and parcel in the dispensing of duties, as some who are steeped in the happenings can find the competitions’ stomping grounds to exhibit their preferences.

That is the nature and type of beast St Vincent and the Grenadines’ sporting landscape has been configured over time.

Sadly, all involved in sports must grapple with this disposition.

We have boxed ourselves into that cocoon as the dependency syndrome takes precedence when the stakes are high, and occasions when the personal future of many is at the center of their economic advancement.

Again, we should hope against hope that the much-anticipated semi- pro Football league gets the attention it needs and that too is devoid of party politics as the culturalisation of our people has made that divorce almost impossible.

More pessimism looms, as with St Vincent and the Grenadines living in a state of permanent politicking, one can project repercussions of one kind of another beyond Thursday, November 27, 2025, as things may never reset.

With the continuum in place, the process follows, or many elections before the next chapter of our political tribalism turns a page that day immediately after general elections.

In all these, sports and the fragile young people of the country are made to endure that spill-offs from the conduct of policy makers and administrators, especially within the government apparatus and attending agencies.