New wine, New taste?

The calendar has been flipped and we are into 2026. As usual a new year brings expectations, hope, and prospects for a new beginning and most of all changes, whether small or great.

These are the universal sentiments and aspirations of many persons around the world.

Here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, the feelings are no different generally, and as it pertains to sports. The mood is one more of optimism and prospects. Whilst there is always that anticipatory feeling when a new year dawns, for us this one is different as we have recently ushered in a new government.

Like with any change, expectations are high that there will be conspicuous realignment in thinking, fervour, focus and execution of sports here in St Vincent and the Grenadines. And no one will be deemed wrong in being wishful as the past few years, a feeling of despondency relative to sports enveloped the psyche of many Vincentians.

Evidently, there were too many banks of grey clouds hovering over the administration of sports and a lack of direction and nonchalance from the public sector officials who were responsible for shaping policies and giving directives.

Hence, we were stuck in gear of repetitive run-of-the-mill operations, leaving our fortunes and positive results to guess work and unchartered sojourns.

But in changing the course of things and detour from the rudderless journey, there must be that all round thrust. Therefore, community groups, clubs, national sporting associations, federations, and unions, along with the Ministry of Sports, the National Sports Council, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic

Committee and other stakeholders must throw in their two cents in the kitty of thoughts and ideas as we sail in a different direction.

Thus, this column would like the new Minister of Sports Kaschaka Cupid,to add some flesh on his party’s national outlook for sports.

This is against the terse and general promises and plans as outlined in his New Democratic Party’s Manifesto.

Accordingly, the NDP as listed in the social contract with the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines, plans to initiate a National Athlete Programme to support emerging athletes’ development, and upgrade sports facilities across the country and ensure every community has access to lighted playing fields.

If we are to go by that pronouncement, then we will be pouring new wine into a not so new vessel, as such intent for sports here in St Vincent and the Grenadines is fruitless.

Hopefully, Cupid, in concert with those who have vested interest and positions of clout, possess more than what is lodged in his party’s manifesto, and he, within his limited governmental experience and resources will craft initiatives that will realise in the shortest possible time frame, some incremental rearrangement to the sporting landscape of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Like the sweeping results at the November 27, 2025, national polls, Vincentians are not prepared to accept anything less- given the confidence that was bestowed when they made their overwhelming choices.

St Vincent and the Grenadines has to begin to better position itself within the regional sporting queue, as for too many years, we have been to the back of it.

Failure to acknowledge sports as a viable economic earner has placed us many years behind those with similar economies of scale.

But the past is the past, so we have to use what has gone to shape what is before us.

Moping and whining will not solve our predicament, as will, skill and a dint of hard work can be the transitional routes towards a more progressive pathway.

In the meantime, as we await what the immediate future brings, hope is always constant even amidst the most daunting of adversities.