One cannot think of
a more united event on Nevis presently than the annual
Gulf Insurance Inter-Primary Sports Day. We commend
and appreciate the efforts greatly and wish continued
success in all areas.
The Charlestown Primary School was defeated after five
consecutive years as champions in this 18th year of
the event. However, it is suggested that with a more
positive attitude from its runners, CPS would have recorded
6 consecutive years as champions.
Hearty congratulations, however, go out to all the participants,
especially the Joycelyn Liburd Primary School of Gingerland,
which achieved a narrow victory.
The event brought together the best primary school athletic
talents on island, tremendous support from all corners,
too many vendors and great fun for one and all. The
live broadcast from the PA system certainly missed the
solid, sober and rational voice of Daniel Williams,
who made a huge difference in some of the earlier meets.
A sour moment, however, was the display of a coffin.
That gesture was insipid and a sad miscalculation of
what should have been clean jubilation. It is rather
difficult to fathom the mind of primary school children
embarking or even thinking on such a sinking gesture.
We as adults need to show more restraint and better
examples for our children to follow, as we are already
deep in the abyss. We certainly missed out on an excellent
opportunity to inspire good sportsmanship towards the
children, that victory could be sweet but yet still,
decent.
My focus, however, is on the morning after and suggestions
to keeping the ground and surroundings clean. The unhealthy
and unclean state of the park has been taking place
year after year. It was absolutely disgraceful to see
the huge amount of garbage that engulfed the Elquemedo
Willett Park and surrounding areas after the event.
It is even more horrifying to witness the school children
along with their teachers tackling the awful mess. Every
possible kind of litter, every possible kind of garbage
was spread all around the ground by the thousands that
attend the function. Yet, by and large, the school children
were the ones doing the massive cleanup and that cannot
be right, even if they are paid.
Now, I'm totally in favor of the children doing a cleanup,
but not for the mess I witnessed there on Thursday morning.
For an event that is 18 years old, it is abominable
that those involved do not possess the vision, wisdom
or wherewithal to alleviate the problematic situation.
As I understand it, glass bottled beverages are not
to be sold at such functions, drinks are to be served
in plastic cups. Endless empty glass bottles, especially
beer bottles, were spread all over the park and primary
school children were the ones cleaning up that mess.
Now, I'll offer a suggestion because of my observance
from other huge functions.
Adequate garbage containers, bins, receptacles, etc.
ought to be placed throughout the park. When one has
garbage to dispose and no receptacle is within sight,
the mess usually ends up on the ground.
It does not have to reach the point where the filthy
aftermath from sports day has to meet the eyes of the
public on the following morning, with the St. James'
children and teachers or any school children for that
matter, in the forefront of such massive cleanup.
I do salute the event and congratulate all deserving
parties. However, the garbage situation should not be
allowed to happen again.
Response to "A Disappointing Situation"
After reading a letter
to the editor of this newspaper on Friday, March 26,
by W.J Koss, headlined A Disappointing Situation,
I felt obliged to offer a response.
Although brief in contents, Mr. Koss spoke volumes.
His assertions seem true to the facts and being non-Nevisian,
apparently a US citizen living in Connecticut, the
gentleman had no qualms about stating what he observed.
He even described his visit to Nevis as "a sadly
under-whelming holiday".
One statement was: "Promotional brochures and
the WWW site tell me of the warm and friendly people.
They are not". This paragraph kicked out at me
like a hoof from a donkey, it almost took my breath
away.
As Nevisian and living on the island, I couldn't find
the gumption to initiate such words publicly, but
the same thought has been active on my mind for some
time now. We have to realize that times change and
so do men. What was true thirty years ago might not
necessarily be true today.
Peaceful Nevis, Paradise, The Gem of the Caribbees,
these are only a few of the prestigious remarks once
truly associated with our island. Many can agree and
others can disagree but let us agree to disagree and
not be disagreeable.
Another statement: "Many seem unhappy and even
angry. I wonder why." I'm sure that I'm not alone
in agreement with this statement. Many mornings as
I listen to our outstanding and gracious Evred "Webbo"
Herbert hosting the morning devotions program, he
often talks about the good cussers Nevisians have
become.
You look at someone and they want to cuss you. You
say Good morning they cuss you. You pass them, nothing
and they cuss you. You get a job, somebody cuss you.
You cannot make Nevis cricket team and they cuss you.
You eventually make the team, somebody cuss you. You
hit a six, somebody cuss you. You get out, somebody
cuss you. You get pregnant, somebody cuss you. You
lose the baby, somebody cuss you. You bring forth
the baby, somebody cuss you and tell you get out of
the schoolyard. And it goes on and on.
Is this a friendly people? Are we still claiming this
accolade? I honestly believe we have just about lost
it and I have to agree with Mr. Koss. We can scoff
at and even kill the messenger but the message will
remain.
I will leave the paragraph about "trash and refuse
litter" for another time as Keith and I have
an appointment to deal with that.
The Four Seasons portion I will also allow to slip
as I've had my feelings on that as well. Saying the
Resort will not open until after the first half of
2011 will cause rancor, but since Mr. Koss mentioned,
"The stated reopening date of November 1st. will
not occur", I am saying also, that has been my
feeling ever since reopening dates started to be aired
publicly.
About crime and the murder close to Gingerland Secondary
School. Mr. Koss wrote, "Some causes for murder
and suicide", the gentleman was spot on. On the
suicide of the native from Guyana, I am been hearing
that the mass roundup of folks from his homeland and
Santo Domingo a week or two earlier, had something
to do with it.
"Murders and suicides increase during troubled
times" Mr. Koss concluded. Are we truly going
to continue along this path? Is it a sign of what
we have become as a people? Your guess is as good
as mine as to when it will end.
The die has been cast, businesses are suffering and
as the gentleman said, sadly, "Crime will increase.
Non-Nevisians notice this."
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