WE ARE BACK

One Caribbean Nation.

West Indies Cricket Emblem

Usain Bolt

Darian King

Sloane Stevens

Basdeo Panday

Brian Lara

We Are Back

After our normal summer break, we are back. During the summer we are involved in several Caribbean projects: cricket competitions, trips to the Caribbean, supporting the summer fundraisers and activities of Caribbean organisations and also experiencing the culture of our adopted homes (the USA Canada Europe)) the bar b ques, Labour Day week-end and enjoying some travelling by visiting friends and relatives throughout the Diaspora.

However, we never took our eyes off the ball and have compiled a list of stories . Here we offer brief comment:

Big story

Usain Bolt decided that he no longer wanted to dominate the field and bowed out of competition in London. It was a bitter sweet moment because we all wanted him to retire in grand style by breaking another record or at least winning. This was not to be but it showed that he is indeed human ! Too many champions hang around and become punch drunk. Bolt is easily the best and greatest athlete of our times. We are confident that there are many more from within our Caribbean region , who will perhaps equal or even surpass his tremendous and incredible achievements and dominance.

All the best Usain, you brought extraordinary pride and placed the Caribbean nation and your island home Jamaica, firmly and indelibly on the global map. Thank you and all the best.

CARICOM

The summer brought no good news for CARICOM. From all indications, the regional body still seems to be going no way very fast. Current dangerous weather resulting from a torrid hurricane season, will add to our many woes. Crime is increasing against children and gun violence has shattered and continue to shatter: Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica. We warned that crime and a deteriorating environment, will be the socio-economic death of the region. We fear our predictions are now in clear view. Unless progressive leadership and good governance replace the poor leadership, we would probably witness the disappearance of all the post-independence gains.

West Indies Cricket Team

Once more our boys flattered only to deceive. We believe that the current administrators are the culprits at the roots of the team’s failure to recapture the “glory days”. The fans remain faithful and there is some talent but a lack of consistency and poor powers of concentration are some of the problems we must solve.

CARIFESTA

The region’s major cultural extravaganza was held in Barbados. From all accounts, the artistes did their best to produce excellent programs, activities and skills. Our craftsmen and women easily showed that their talents and products are on par with those of any part of the world. However, the region’s cultural industries cannot prosper unless sophisticated and modern marketing tools are developed to push our artistes and crafts on the international market.

Special Comment #1

Former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Basdeo Panday used the occasion of the islands fifty second independence anniversary, to state that the society had not provided any real future and growth for its citizens. We call that: “spitting up in the air and letting it drop in your face”. Panday has been an integral part of the political life of T and T during all those years. He rose from an extremely charismatic Labour Leader, to the highest office. He is therefore as culpable and even more culpable for all the post-independence short comings of the country. Look in the mirror Panday and you would see why Trinidad and Tobago, has failed in many areas of national development.

Special Comment #2

Batting great and former West Indies cricket captain, Brian Lara, recently got some things of his chest by berating the behavior of our cricketing super stars Viv Richards and Michael Holding, during the dominance of the West Indies. While we respect Lara’s right to speak his mind, we question why he waited almost twenty years to make the comments. Sooner or later, we are going to have to learn that we need not wash our dirty linen in public, especially before audiences, in England, a place where West Indies cricketers often encountered racism. Quite recently Geoff Boycott said he would have to blacken his face to get a knighthood. This was his way of expressing his disappointment that so many West Indies cricketers had been given such an honour.

Be careful what you say Brain but be even more careful when and where you say it!

A king indeed

We started with one star taking a final bow and we finish with another star on the horizon. Barbadian Darian King, became the first from his country to qualify for a place in a Grand Slam. King made it to the first round of the US Open. This was indeed a remarkable achievement because he had very limited help from the government of Barbados and only equally limited sponsorship from the corporate sector. It was indeed a triumph in perseverance and positive thinking.  Keep going on Darian -you are a King indeed.

Still on tennis, we note that current U S Open women’s single champion, Sloane Stevens of the USA has Caribbean roots. Her grandfather is a Trinidadian.

We continue to rise against all odds.

It’s great TO BE BACK .