Stop the bleeding!

St Vincent and the Grenadines continued its merry pathway of placing last in the annual CBN/ Winlott Inc Windward Islands Schools’ Games (WISG) when the 2026 edition was completed on Saturday, August 1, in Castries, St Lucia.

Twenty twenty six mirrored the previous three outings- 2019, 2023 and 2025, in the final standings.

A quick reminder that St Vincent and the Grenadines finished on 19 points, some distance behind new winners St Lucia on 37; second place Dominica, 29; and Grenada, 27 points.

Critically, St Vincent and the Grenadines placed last in four disciplines- Football, which they won in 2025, and male Volleyball, but as expected male and female Basketball.

The best showings were second places in Track and Field, female Volleyball and Netball.

It must be demoralizing for the Vincentian contingent even before the start of the WISG, to have the label of the weakest unit.

The other three islands made animal fodder of St Vincent and the Grenadines, knowing there are glaring gaps in some of the disciplines, hence they enjoyed the luxury of the easy points.

But St Vincent and the Grenadines’ issues as they relate to the WISG are inherent, bounded by the structure and apparatus of having the Ministry of Sports’ personnel, the ones who are solely responsible for the technical supervision and preparations of the various teams.

Whilst this may have worked in the past, recent results point to the need to change the status quo.

Starting with the schools’ events, there must be early identification of prospective selectees, as well as the coaches, managers and other persons that will form the management unit.

Of note too, local competitions that are the gauges of the selection processes, have to be professionally administered, providing an insight into what subregional undertakings look like.

It is therefore clear that within the Division of Sports and Physical Activities, the prerequisite expertise to manage and execute a tight schedule of sporting disciplines is not forthcoming from within.

Hence, the hierarchy of the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture and the Creative Industries has to, from the get go, make the necessary changes in order for St Vincent and the Grenadines not to forever be labelled, the whipping boys and girls of Windward Islands Schools Games.

Engaging national sporting associations for assistance would have to be revisited as was the case in the past.

This, as the WISG are important guards for these national sporting bodies, who are given insights of their talent stock that is available at the Under-21 level.

Not that winning is everything, but it creates a good feeling of accomplishment.

Conversely, losing can be infectious and has the ability to disrupt any positive state of mind.

Therefore, the clamour for change in the modus operandi has to be louder that ever, since they last tasted WISG glory back in 2010, notwithstanding that the Games have had breaks in-between.

Can a dent be made as the 2027 WISG heads to Dominica?

Surely, St Lucia will be seeking to retain the title, and with Dominica on home soil, they will endeavour to reach the summit in front of their fans and families.

Grenada, perennial winners was dethroned in 2026, they too will be hurting and would want to reclaim what they think is theirs forever.

What will be St Vincent and the Grenadines’ response to four successive fourth places?