St. George’s, October 9, 2009: The opening of the West Indies Cricket Heritage Centre in Grenada is another opportunity for this country to forge ahead with creating an economic niche involving sports, culture and tourism, a senior government minister has said.
“The increasing economic impact that sports and culture have in attracting tourists to Grenada, and boosting revenue and foreign exchange, is tremendous,’’ Tourism Minister Hon. Glynis Roberts said Friday at the formal opening of the centre at the National Stadium. “For example, we know that thousands of first-time and returning visitors came to Grenada this year for carnival and other local festivals in July and August, and that millions of dollars were spent in the country.’’
The West Indies Cricket Heritage Centre, the brainchild of Briton Phillip Daniels, includes a collection of cricketing memorabilia dating back more than 80 years of regional involvement in the sport. Among the items are bats, stumps, caps, touring blazers, photographs, team sheets, letters and books.
Mrs. Roberts, who is also MP for St. George-South and Treasurer of the ruling National Democratic Congress, described the opening of the centre as “an historic moment for Grenada and the Caribbean.’’
She explained that “it is historic because we are not here simply documenting and archiving a sport – West Indies cricket. This is about a people and a region.’’
The minister, repeating remarks made recently at a regional bodybuilding and fitness championship in St. George’s, pledged that government will remain committed to augmenting Grenada’s presence in the sports-tourism industry, which is expected to grow worldwide in the coming years.
“I look forward to Grenadians, and tens of thousands of West Indians and others from around the world, whom we expect will be visiting the West Indies Cricket Heritage Centre,’’ said Mrs. Roberts. “My fervent hope is that its establishment will not only serve to teach us and educate us, but will also serve as a motivator of what we can achieve as a people and as a region.’’
Here’s the text of the minister’s address.
SALUTATIONS!
Today’s occasion – the formal ceremony commissioning the West Indies Cricket Heritage Centre – is an historic moment for Grenada and the Caribbean. It is historic because we are not here simply documenting and archiving a sport – West Indies cricket. This is about a people and a region.
To best understand what cricket means to us as a Caribbean people, we must read “Beyond A Boundary’’ – which I’m sure will be among the collections in the West Indies Cricket Heritage Centre. This classic, written by the late Trinidad-born historian, novelist and cultural and political activist, eloquently reminds us of the psychological and sociological meaning of cricket in our lives, and how West Indies cricket was wrapped up in the growing tide of regional pride and the quest for independence in the Caribbean. In the book, first published in 1963, James writes: “West Indians crowding to test matches bring with them the whole past history and future hopes of the islands.’’
On behalf of Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas and the Government and people of Grenada, I want to congratulate Mr. Phillip Daniels for his tireless efforts in putting this Centre together, and for choosing Grenada as a fitting location. Perhaps we deserve it, not only for the beauty of our country and the hospitality of our people, but also because one of the early cricketers to tour with the West Indies was a naturalized Grenadian. William Henry Mignon was born in England but emigrated to Grenada. He was selected to the Grenada cricket team and was a member of the West Indies touring party that visited England in 1900. Since Mignon, we have had other Grenadians, such as Smith, Lewis, Fletcher and Murray, gaining selection to the West Indies cricket team.
I welcome Mr. Daniels and the West Indies Cricket Heritage Centre to Grenada because this venture also fits nicely with our government’s mission to create a niche for Grenada through linkages between sports, tourism and culture. The increasing economic impact that sports and culture have in attracting tourists to Grenada, and boosting revenue and foreign exchange, is tremendous. For example, we know that thousands of first-time and returning visitors came to Grenada this year for carnival and other local festivals in July and August, and that millions of dollars were spent in the country.
And we continue to look for ways to augment Grenada’s presence in the sports-tourism industry; an industry that experts say is expected to grow annually at around 6 percent for the next five years. Grenada will do everything it can to ready itself to host large and small sporting events; events that we’ll ensure are professionally organized and appealing; events that are competitive from the athletes’ point of view, but also exciting for the spectator who will be entertained and even educated in the process.
As I said to the athletes and officials who were in Grenada last weekend for the 37th Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding & Fitness Championship, this current Grenada Government believes in the concept of “Sports for All,’’ as we strive to become a more fit and healthy nation.
In closing, I would like to again express my appreciation to my Daniels. I look forward to Grenadians, and tens of thousands of West Indians and others from around the world, whom we expect will be visiting the West Indies Cricket Heritage Centre. My fervent hope is that its establishment will not only serve to teach us and educate us, but will also serve as a motivator of what we can achieve as a people and as a region.