It just did not add up

The much anticipated inaugural Vincy Premier League (VPL) would have lost some of its sting, by the faux pas made by the stakeholders last Friday, the opening day of the T/10 Cricket tournament.

A ban on spectators to attend the matches for fear of the threats of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, to avoid any sort of social gathering.

This decision, according to a release from the host organisation, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association Inc., noted that it came from the advice of the “National COVID-19 Taskforce”.

Certainly, this all-of-a-sudden imposition of “no spectators”, would have made the whole of the St Vincent and the Grenadines look as a country of persons who are lacking any logical thinking.

In a lead-up to the start of the VPL, President of the SVGCA Inc. Dr Kishore Shallow, had indicated that there would have been protocols to ensure physical distancing by spectators who attended the matches.

Furthermore, there were demarcations at the security check points at the Arnos Vale venue, for specatators, before the enter the arena.

It then meant that the organisers were prepared to welcome spectators for the duration of the tournament.

With the ban imposed on spectators, Friday and Saturday, the “authorities” then relaxed their stance and agreed for a limited number of persons to be present for the remainder of the tournament.

The lame duck excuse was that the taskforce was satisfied and had approved the management of the players on the first two days, (Friday and Saturday).

By rescinding so soon on the presence of spectators at the venue, surely, St Vincent and the Grenadines got marked down, as we looked like “boo boos”.

Was it that someone stepped on the toes of another, thus ranks were pulled?

The indecisions in total, though did not add up, as they bore irony, because at the time of the “authorities“ imposing a ban on the spectatorship at the VPL, mini vans were given permission to transport 12 passengers, instead of the previously restricted nine.

Too, there were resumption of classes for students who were preparing for external examinations.

Added, there were indications of an easing up of some of the rigidity that abounded, as it pertains to practices in conducting business here.

Therefore, when the “authorities”, gave the argument of “distancing” as the reason for the banning of spectators from viewing the VPL, it was a case of “Fool ah talk, but Fool na ah listen”.

How could have distancing been a problem at the sparse Arnos Vale venue?

If there is any sporting arena here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, where physical and social distancing, could be practised, it is only Arnos Vale.

Futhermore, the timing of the matches, 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., only suit the die hard cricket fans who are few and far between.

The “authorities” should have taken cue from the hosting of the regional four-day cricket matches in the Professional Cricket League ( PCL), when at best, with free admission, fewer that 100 spectators, who tend to show up mainly from about 1 p.m.

On the contrary, there is an admission fee charged for persons attending the matches in the VPL. So who is fooling who when it comes to “distancing”?.

All in all, all those who are in the decision making positions, would have dropped the ball, with their uncertainty of what they wanted as it related to have the VPL played in an empty stadium.

Their indecision has left many persons disinterested in attending the remainder of the VPL.

And as the sayings go: “First impressions are lasting”, and “You will never get another chance to make a first impression”.