Three national cricketers among 50 honoured in North Central Windward
THREE CRICKETERS were recognised during the Unity Labour Party’s candidate selection for the North Central Windward Constituency on Saturday, August 9, 2025.
Olanzo Jackson (left) accepts his award from Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves (photos by Robertson S Henry)
They three cricketers- Olanzo Jackson, Lindon James, and Asif Hooper, were among 50 persons recognized for their contribution to the advancement of life in the constituency. Jackson made his national debut in 1998 under the captaincy of the late Irvin Warrican, and was called into the Windward Islands team four years later. He played 27 first-class four-day games for the sub-regional team, taking 91 wickets at an average of 28.10, with best bowling figures of 8 for 79.
Jackson established a cricket academy at Gorse from which the exciting left-handed batter Gidron Pope, emerged to become part of the ICC Under-19 World Cup West Indies championship team in 2016. Jackson also produced through his academy, a number of national players such as Asif Hooper (who was also recognised on Saturday night), Anson Latchman, Dillon Douglas, Delorn Johnson, and Othneil Lewis.
Jackson can also boast of a double – the first coach to win the VPL championship, and the first as well to win the Emancipation Cricket Festival. His academy has since been renamed the Central Windward Cricket Academy. A government employee within the Department of Physical Education and Sports, Jackson still competes at the national level as a player for the Carlos Veira Rivals team.
Lindon James is a former St Vincent and the Grenadines and Windward Islands wicket-keeper who has since retired, and began the ‘Be Fit Movement’ in June, 2015. James’ wicket-keeping prowess was spotlighted during the 2008 Stanford Superstars Series, and upon his retirement, has adopted the ‘Cause for Juvenile Diabetes’ in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the National Diabetes Association, and other private entities, in bringing awareness to this disease and making significant donations to the Diabetes Association and individuals.
The third cricketer honoured has an undiluted passion for cricket. From an early age at the Park Hill Government School, Asif Hooper’s talent was evident. At age 14, he was playing club cricket for Rivals as a left-arm spinner and batter, marking the beginning of an impressive journey.
In 2007 his performances earned him a call up to the St Vincent and the Grenadines national Under-15 cricket team, and two years later, in 2009, and 2010, he captained the St Vincent and the Grenadines Under- 19 cricket team.
In his years attending the George Stephens Senior Secondary School Hooper excelled not just in cricket but also in volleyball, football, and athletics, earning himself multiple MVP awards.
He made his national senior team debut in 2012 in Grenada, played for the Skelmanthorpe Cricket Club in England in 2018, and the Hairounaz in Canada in 2023 and 2024. Hooper has also played for the Windward Islands Volcanoes Franchise in the Cricket West Indies regional professional cricket programme. He captained the Grenadines Whalers to victory in the inaugural Emancipation Cricket Festival held at the Arnos Vale Cricket Grounds earlier this month.
A member of the Radcliffe Cricket Club, Hooper was appointed captain of the national senior cricket team in 2025.
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