Cricket, Local News

Of Cricket & Carnival

Caribupdate Weekly, Editorial

August 21, 2014: This week’s one-day international (ODI) series between West Indies and Bangladesh continues a string of scheduled first-class cricket matches Grenada is hosting. It began with the opening ceremony and matches in the 2014 Limacol Caribbean Premier League.

After this week’s ODI matches, England will be visiting next April. The Brits will be meeting the West Indies here, in what will be England’s first-ever Test in Grenada.

Caribupdate Weekly believes that these series of cricket matches could well determine whether international cricket – at Test and ODI levels – will return to Grenada anytime soon.

The selection of venues for first class cricket matches, especially for teams visiting the Caribbean, is a competitive affair. It is not just about playing cricket and – hopefully – the West Indies winning. It’s also business; about crowds attending games and the West Indies Cricket Board making a profit or – at least – not losing money.

We need more than our continued talk about our love for cricket. We must demonstrate our love for cricket by patronizing games, putting our butts in the seats, and cheering and encouraging our cricketers.

We also think that a review ought to be done of the way that international cricket, and even local and regional sporting events, such as football, are promoted and advertised throughout the nation.

It could be that we have become prey to the mistaken belief that all of Grenada is connected to Facebook, Instagram and other social media. Hence, many fall into a self-satisfactory illusion that once posted on social media, their promotional work is done.

The truth is, though, traditional mass media are still the most popular communication means in Grenada and other Third World countries. Our sports administrators and promoters ought to invest more time, effort and resources in use of the mass media to mobilize the nation to attend sporting events.

And, we’re not just talking about a issuing a press release now and again; or, some official getting on radio and TV to do the odd 30-minute or one-hour interview. We’re suggesting a well-planned, targeted campaign that includes paid – yes, paid – advertisement. One of the expense lines in the budget must be for advertising.

If we all walk the talk and not just talk the talk of cricket, Grenada is certain to be a regular venue for top class cricket, which will bring to our shores all the best teams including Australia, South Africa, India and Pakistan.

As It Was In the Beginning

And, a final word from Caribupdate Weekly on this year’s carnival and the Spicemas Corporation (SMC).

The first official competitive event of the season was the Pan Expression for Grenada Steelbands’ Association member. On the night of competition, one set of results was announced, only to have them changed a few days later.

A tabulation error was blamed for the first announcement that Coyaba New Dimension had won Pan Expression. On correction, Republic Bank Angel Harps was named as the rightful winner.

And, as it was in the beginning, so it was in the end. Last Wednesday, SMC first announced that LIME Commancheros were winners of the coveted Band of the Year title. Lo and behold, the results were later retracted because – again – of a tabulation error. The real winner was Andre Garvey and Associates.

There is a lot in need of fixing in Grenada’s carnival; some are longterm and structural and will take an extended period to be righted; perhaps, never will be.

But, there are some issues of carnival that are fixable and can be tackled immediately. These include a review of the SMC itself and an evaluation of the performance of the staff and board of directors. The quality of personnel at the SMC, as the chief organizing body for Spicemas, is key to the flow and outcome of many events.

While some glitches experienced this year were beyond the control of the SMC, too many appeared to be shortcomings on the part of the corporation.

Whether the blame on SMC is deserving or not, the urgency now is to conduct an immediate post-mortem, make changes where necessary, and begin prompt planning and preparation for Spicemas 2015.

One issue to which we’ll like to draw the attention of Spicemas organizers is the staging next year of an International Conference and Panorama (ICP), from August 6 – 9, in Trinidad.

Panorama in Grenada already is struggling mightily as it tries to compete with two private soca shows on Pantastic Saturday.

Next year, it could face a third challenge. The ICP Panorama is expected to be held August 8, 2015; Grenada’s 2015 Panorama is also scheduled for August 8. We could have the unfortunate situation of some Grenadians having to go to Trinidad either as pannists or as pan supporters.

Grenada could either lobby for Pan Trinbago to change the date of the ICP Panorama; or, put our Panorama for a day or two earlier and invite the festival participants in Trinidad to visit Grenada for the final few days, including Carnival Monday and Tuesday, of Spicemas 2015.

 

Comments are closed.