Political climate forces athletics club to change name

The current heightened political climate here in St Vincent and the Grenadines has resulted in one sporting organization having to change its name.

A Layou based track and field outfit, which was previously known as Negative To Positive (N2P), has been rebranded ‘High Performance Sports Club’.{{more}}

Head of the club Chester Morgan told SEARCHLIGHT that his unit had, in recent times, been seeing red, as they were being accused of being an arm of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP).

Morgan vehemently denies this claim, stating, “We have no political affiliation.”

Morgan said that recently some uniforms were sourced and on learning that they were yellow, the club refused to accept them.

Yellow is the party colour of the NDP.

However, Morgan said that the entire melée has caused the club to widen its net to engage other sporting disciplines – football, netball, taekwondo, along with a fitness group, hence the inclusion of other personnel.

Morgan and Chester Smith have been assigned to athletics; Morgan and Smith – the Under-17 and Under-13 football outfits respectively; and Curlyn John and Janet Christopher undertaking netball.

Smith adds the fitness group to his responsibilities, with Collette Charles, the club’s medical resource person.

Former national footballers Leon Wickham and Percival Samuel will take charge of the all-age football team, when it comes on stream in 2016. Table tennis and volleyball are other disciplines to be added to the club’s scheme.

In outlining the target goals of the High Performance Sports Club for 2018, Morgan said, “We want to create educational support groups for our members; seek financial assistance; develop coaches in different areas, as well as assist our members to achieve scholarships and put at least four members on the various national teams.”

Morgan noted that the mission of the club is to use physical and educational activities to enhance the holistic development of its members, which can help with the betterment of sports in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

He cited the club’s catchment area of the Layou Government School, the Central Leeward Secondary, the Buccament Bay Secondary and the Bethel High School.

The former N2P came to national attention in 2012 in its first outing at the National Juvenile Championships, put on by Team Athletics.

In its debut year, the club won the title and earlier this year made it four in a row.(RT)