Hoping for a better showing

When the St Vincent and the Grenadines team to the 2026 CBN/ Winlott Inc. Windward Islands Schools’ Games (WISG), open competition, they should be doing so with one purpose, to improve all round.

This wish comes in light of the dismal efforts over the last three editions, when the country not only occupied the last position, but that position was assured even before the Games commenced.

As it was, St Vincent and the Grenadines ended at the bottom of the four-island WISG in 2019, 2023 and 2025.

Sadly, the last occasion on which St Vincent and the Grenadines topped the WISG was 2010, some sixteen years ago. In 2009, a joint first place with St Lucia installed the country as technically back-to-back winners.

The downhill slide then ensued, as SVG placed third in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

They stood in second place in 2014, before registering successive third places in 2015 and 2016.

A last place in 2017 and joint second place in 2018, chronicled the country’s sojourn over the period listed above.

The trend has been allowed to go untethered with oblivion being the pathway choice of administrators.

In saying so, not remaining in that place is not guaranteed, but from evidence, there is a sense of structure ahead of the Games set to take place in St Lucia from July 24 to August 1.

From the outside, there appears to be a greater effort to have team unity, whilst albeit late, preparations are seemingly better than what obtained in the past.

Critically, this time around, the St Vincent and the Grenadines team of 62 athletes who will don the national colours for the multi-discipline event were known within three weeks of the Games.

A welcomed change, the early announcement of the final squad deviated from the lackadaisical and apathetic demeanour of those charged with the assembling and selection of the best combinations.

Too, there has been greater public engagement with the team selected, thus inspiring some confidence in the Vincentian public that the WISG will not be an end-of-school year vacation for those making the cut.

Furthermore, reports are that added extrinsic rewards are on offer to those who perform well. Whilst all those selected should be innately motivated and inspired to give of their best, nothing is wrong with a few perks and trinkets to the good.

Given the make up of the disciplines, St Vincent and the Grenadines stands a very good chance of retaining the Netball title, similarly Football.

It is expected that with some in-depth technical application, the country will hold its own in the Track and Field component, with male and female Volleyball, hanging in the balance.

Reality though is that St Vincent and the Grenadines is woefully behind in Basketball- both male and female.

Hope, however, springs eternal hence whatever is the final outcome from the seven days of competition, July 25 to July 31, St Vincent and the Grenadines may at least attain a dignified last, knowing it is a work in progress.

Again, the Vincentian public will certainly take comfort in the fact that they gave of their best, but others were better than they were.