Sporting fraternity loses sports all-rounder

The Vincentian sporting fraternity suffered a palpable loss in the death of Justin Douglas, a long standing administrator, commentator, and sports talk show host.

Douglas died last Saturday April 13, 2024, after a brief illness.

A retired school teacher, Douglas fell ill with what was later diagnosed as a stroke, as he concluded hosting the popular interactive, ‘Sports Highlights’, on Nice Radio, on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

At that time, he was entertaining members of ‘Team Fraser’ ahead of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation’s Elective Congress. A champion of schools athletics, Douglas was known for spearheading the participation of his school at various mini-meets, road races, and relays put on by the then St Vincent and the Grenadines Amateur Athletics Association, subsequently renamed Team Athletics SVG.

Hence, he used his certification as a Track and Field coach to bear on the schools to which he was assigned.

Among some of the educational institutions to have benefited from Douglas’ expertise were the Calliaqua Anglican; Brighton Methodist; the St Vincent Grammar School; and the Carapan Secondary (now St Clair Dacon Secondary).

As an administrator, Douglas served the disciplines of Track and Field and Cycling mainly, along with the Junior Olympians programme.

He also was a leading light in the Brighton Football Competition, and was coach of representative youth teams emerging from that competition.

Through the instrumentality of Nice Radio, Douglas covered several community and national sporting competitions, principally Football and Netball, throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation(SVGFF) in paying tribute to Douglas said his passion and dedication to his craft was unparalleled.

Similarly, the SVG Cycling Union, also paying tribute to Douglas, said he would be remembered for his dedication and commitment to the sport of Cycling and the Cycling Union over the years.

In addition to managing junior and elite teams, he served as a commissioner for national events at the local level, the Cycling Union said, as it went on to also list the various areas in which Douglas served in regional competitions held on local soil.

He served the Cycling Union for 16 years as public relations officer and four year as its general secretary.

SEARCHLIGHT joins the sporting fraternity in expressing condolences to Douglas’s family, relatives and friends on his passing.