Going beyond party politics

Say what you want, pleased or frowned , support or oppose, the five year exercise of general elections continues to be part and parcel of the most productive time when it comes to sporting facilities here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The buzz is on and this country’s sporting stock, as it specifically relates to structures, are being spruced up or there are new facilities being built.

When one looks around, there are some ongoing upgrades and construction of facilities in North Leeward, namely Rose Hall, Fitz Hughes and Rose Bank, a partial redo of the Sion Hill Village hard court, the completion of the new facility at San Souci, as well as the creation of a playing facility in Evesham, just to mention a few.

These go with the marquee project, that of the construction of phase one of the Diamond track facility, which also includes a full size football field.

The above mentioned undertakings, are the work of the sitting government and is most welcomed.
St Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the few countries in the Caribbean that was without a synthetic track, and despite the protracted time taken to get it to fruition, the achievement and completion should supersede any ill feeling which would have accrued during the period of wait.
But, there will always be arguments for or against the timing of playing serious at upping or enhancing this country’s sporting infrastructure.

Depending on what side of the political fence one sits, such feverish efforts at this time, would be seen as politically relevant and strategic or as a gimmick, for the sole sake of winning votes.

Unfortunately, like it or not, this is not anything novel, as it has been the modus operandi of several political parties in office in the past, and it will remain that way for a long time to come.

On the other hand, the overriding fact is that when such things are done, ultimately they are done for the betterment of country, albeit the underlying objectives.

This is not to say that each and every sporting project that is being undertaken at present, is merely a political move.

A case in point is the upgrade of the Brighton Playing Field, where the playing surface is being levelled, along with the erection of a perimeter wall and some drainage enhancement.

The Brighton project is being done by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation, with funding from football’s governing body, FIFA.

The latter, which is long overdue, simply would have coincided with the rancour of an imminent political campaigning season.

So to drag the Brighton enhancement project into the political realms is rather forlorn.

But the most injurious to that project in question is the fact the some football officials are playing politics with the young people’s social development, by bringing their political affiliation and persuasion for an obstructive cause.

One may argue that it is only human to react that way, as that is the nature, mannerisms and spin-offs of the partisan political arena.

Things though are not shaping up for the better, as it is seemingly embedded in us, for the tribalism to persist and perpetuate.

We have also to come to the realisation that we are existing in times that every action has to be predicated by a political colour.

Purging ourselves from that political constipation may take a lifetime, as we are being cultured to be blinded in belief of party loyalty over the overall development.

Taking that nationalistic approach towards what is best for St Vincent and the Grenadines would only come through that elusive political maturity and critical thinking.