SVG cricket fraternity loses leading stalwart

The local Cricket fraternity lost one of its main driving forces last Thursday, with the death of Carlos Veira.

Known to many as “Fat Man”, “Skip” or “Manage”, Veira was one of the foundation members of top Premier Division outfit Team Rivals.

Incidentally, his death came on the same day when two team members, Olanzo Jackson and Anson Latchman, celebrated. For Jackson, it was the worst birthday he has ever experienced, as he lost his “second father”. Jackson, a member of Team Rivals for 18 years, described Veira as “honest and warm-hearted”, and one who would give away all that he had, especially to sports people.”

Jackson recalled playing for Touch Colts in 1997, but was personally asked by Veira to join Rivals, as it was named then. “I did not only play for Rivals, but Veira offered me a job in the sports shop… This did not only help me to earn an income, but I learned a lot from him about cricket and how to fix bats and so on,” Jackson recalled.

“Our team never had to worry about gear, about transportation, about food on a Sunday when the team is playing, as Manage would provide us with all that… This made us very comfortable and he was always with the team,” Jackson said.

Ailing health during the last year restricted Veira’s input with the team, but Jackson revealed that Team Rivals was aiming for a fifth lien on the Premier Division title this year to honour Veira’s contribution to the team over the years.

“I guess that is one of the reasons why we lost the title, because we were really trying hard to bring home that one for Manage,” Jackson disclosed.

Jackson, who never played for St Vincent and the Grenadines at the age level, but went on to make the senior team and the Windwards, credited his rise in the short space of time to the inspiration and personal help and attention he got from Veira.

A former SVG and Windwards off-spinner, Jackson says the team will forever be grateful to Veira for his efforts in making them better persons and better cricketers.

Veira was one of the foundation members who saw Rivals emerge from a team known as Richmond Hill, which began in the Narvo Shield in 1974 and was promoted to the Fraser Neckles Competition in 1987. These competitions have since been renamed the First and Premier Divisions, respectively.

Under his Veira’s watch, Rivals is said to have claimed eight divisional titles, four Twenty/20 titles, Super-40, as well as five won in the now defunct Sunday League.

A true servant of the sport, Veira made his contribution at the national level, as team manager, selector and as an executive member.

In addition, Veira, through his businesses, has sponsored several cricket teams, softball teams, football teams, as well as competitions.

He was made a life member of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association Inc in December 2014.

Prior to last Saturday’s semi-final match between French Verandah SVG Community College and Victors Two at the Arnos Vale Two Playing Field, a minute’s silence was observed in Veira’s honour.

Veira will be laid to rest next Monday, June 27, following a funeral service at the Co- Cathedral of the Assumption in Kingstown. He was 65 years old at the time of his death.(RT)