Opinion

ATHLETES & FANS WAITING

Too Long a wait

Lost Potential both in sporting disciplines and revenue

An opinion by Jamal Bovell

It was the ending of April 2021 that the then minister in charge Dwight Sutherland stated that the new athletic track was already on the way and repairs to the overused stadium which he stated was already on the way. Repairs on some portions had been completed and the remainder would be done. The stands were to be done later. At that point in time most people accepted that it wasn’t ideal but it was an improvement. Much needed work since the initial laying of this track in 2012.

It was then in September 2022 we heard from the new minister of Sports Charles Griffith that they would be breaking ground on a new stadium. We heard from several areas of government including the Prime Minister Mia Mottley herself, that we would be receiving funding from China to facilitate this new stadium.

It’s been nearly two years now and still our athletes are waiting.

It was then November 2023 we heard from the Prime Minister and Dr. William Duguid that some environmental issues had to be addressed but government was not twiddling their thumbs and we were assured work would commence in March or April this year.

We are almost 2 months gone and still our athletes are waiting.

Some may say this isn’t a loss because there is The Usain Bolt Complex but as we saw this year having one facility is and always was a recipe for speeding up the deterioration of that complex. To their credit the management of the facility have shown a propensity for maintenance and proper care of the stadium. Thus this year in keeping with that the stadium became off-limits and our athletes were forced to compete on less than ideal grass tracks, our athletics association had to ship our athletes out to overseas meets to try qualify for regional and international meets.

Perhaps I’m just hanging on nostalgia and reminiscing about watching future global stars like Usain Bolt, Kerron Stewart, Veronica Cam[bell-Browne and Trinidadian Darrel Brown compete at Carifta 2001. Maybe I’m stuck in 2002 where these same stars returned with others such as Kelly-Ann Baptiste for that years edition of CAC juniors. The following year we saw the Panam Juniors took to these shores and even more future global giants, such as Jeremy Wariner, Natasha Hastings made their appearance with Usain Bolt setting a new Junior World record.

For me these brought moments of pride being able to watch our local giants of that era, the likes of Damon Thompson, Wilan Louis, Shernelle Nicholls, Jade Bailey amongst others compete and hold their own against these future global giants. A pride that I wonder if/when will those younger than me get to experience. I am sure these helped drive interest into the sport for my generation as the stadium was packed to capacity with fans screaming our lungs out.

It was September 2022 the Prime Minister said that the promise that a new stadium was not just lip service. It was 2020 we were told that the stadium would be used for national teams and be better policed.

Some folks think the track and field fraternity shouldn’t take it personal that sports itself on a whole is treated on the same level across the island but with the rapid investment of funds into the already internationally ratred Kensington Oval for the upcoming T20 World Cup one can wonder. In the recent past we have seen a new facility for football has been opened. The road tennis fraternity has seen a number of courts created and a large investment to grow it globally. The greatest slap to the face may come with the improvement of the netball facilities a mere stone’s throw away from the now ghost town of a stadium.

It’s 2024 and we the fans of athletics are still waiting. Our athletes are still waiting. The country’s potential for growth and the further development of the likes of Sada Williams, Mario Burke and Jonathan Jones on home soil are still waiting.

Opinion

Haiti: a call to action for all Caribbean and Latin American countries

By: Mario Lubetkin, FAO Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean

Although the most recent evidence shows signs of improvement in food insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean, the data reveal a worrying upward trend in Haiti and sectors of the subregion.

The situation in Haiti is particularly alarming: violence, a prolonged economic crisis, and extreme weather events have brought the country to a critical point with devastating consequences for its population. A further deterioration in acute food insecurity is projected between June and October 2024.

Haiti is the only country in the region that is considered to be in a major protracted food crisis, is one of nine countries in the world at risk of famine and is among the five countries with more than 10% of the population in Emergency. This translates into 1.6 million people with food consumption shortfalls, reflected in very high acute malnutrition and excess mortality that they can only mitigate through emergency livelihood strategies and liquidation of their assets. On the other hand, almost half of the population, about 5.5 million, could face high levels of acute food insecurity.

El Niño caused crop failures in 2023, and this year, forecasts warn of more intense hurricanes due to La Niña, which could cause flooding and landslides, causing additional damage to crops, livelihoods, and infrastructure.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), committed to supporting Haiti, is working intensively to mitigate the impacts of the humanitarian crisis through emergency agricultural assistance, strengthening livelihood resilience and specialized technical assistance while ensuring the nexus between humanitarian response, resilience, and development. FAO estimated it would require $42.6 million to assist 528,000 people, but it has received only 6% of the funding.

In 2023, FAO reached some 120,000 people across Haiti through emergency agricultural and livestock interventions to support local food production and sustain rural livelihoods. In 2024, FAO continued to provide emergency assistance in Haiti, focusing on food security and agricultural resilience amid global challenges, assisting 44,000 beneficiaries in various country departments.

In the face of increasing violence and food crises, the FAO calls on donors and governments to increase their support. Ten million dollars are needed to assist 80,000 people, ensuring the protection of their livelihoods, covering minimum food needs, and improving the availability and access to food for the most vulnerable households.

FAO appreciates the efforts of local authorities to stabilize the country through the appointment of Garry Conille as interim Prime Minister. We are confident that steps such as these will help Haiti embark on a normalization path, which could also improve food security for all its inhabitants.

The food insecurity situation in Haiti requires urgent and coordinated action. A rapid, effective response and the mobilization of the necessary resources will mitigate the impact of this crisis, support the vulnerable population, and help Haiti regain its path to food security and stability. Humanitarian aid must reach those who need it most. Only in this way can we ensure a better life for all, leaving no one behind. (PR)