It cannot be argued that COVID-19 has curtailed many activities within the country, and the sporting sector has been one much affected by this global pandemic.
On Sunday night’s Annou Palé, the highlight was on sports and the way forward. First up on the show was Trevor Shillingford, Sports Coordinator and Her Excellency Loreen Bannis-Roberts, Special Envoy, Netball. Shillingford pointed out that sports involves contact and due to the inability to congregate as usual it impacts the skills of the players of the various sports. He further lamented that the restrictions placed are affecting citizens need for recreation, health, economic aspects and as a result, the pandemic has also placed an increase in cost on the various international sporting bodies.
In response to the Prime Minister’s question on the need to resume sports in schools, Shillingford highlighted the positive impact sports has on students’ academic functions. He further provided that guidelines to ensure the safety of students will be discussed with the Ministry of Education and the importance of educating student athletes on the safety measures re COVID-19, which includes being vaccinated.
When asked for a summary of the last two years in sports, Shillingford informed that better facilities are being put in place to enhance sporting activities on island. The Massacre indoor facility, which is nearing completion was also discussed. Rehabilitation works is also ongoing at the Windsor Park Stadium, the Woodford Hill playing field and pavilion, the Geneva playing field, among several others.
Ambassador Roberts provided information on the progress that netball has made in the country and highlighted that Dominica has been placed on the international scene as the country is currently hosting the International Netball Series currently taking place from February 11 to 19, 2022. She encouraged that the sport of netball can be used to achieve Sustainable Development Goals as many facets of achieving these goals co-relate to sports. Ambassador Roberts further voiced that the Sports Division needs reinforcement and stressed the need to return to sports beginning from the primary level as whole efforts should be put forward by all stakeholders to use sports as tool to achieve the SDG’s. She advised that in order to do this however, a clear policy is needed.
The second segment of the show involved a face to face sit down with Peter Ricketts, President, Dominica Amateur Basketball Association and virtual interviews with Liam Sébastien, 2nd Vice President, Dominica Cricket Association and Glen Ettienne, President, Dominica Football Association. The highlight of this segment was to discuss the way forward to see a resumption in sporting activities. Sébastien, the recently appointed West Indies Board Selector, informed that grassroots programs are being established to propel cricket internationally, however greater collaboration is needed to further the sport.
Ricketts when asked about plans for basketball, he stated that a proposal was submitted to the Dominica Olympic Committee to develop an updated strategic plan, keeping in mind the added challenges that COVID-19 has placed on programs.
In adding to the discussion, Ettienne described updates in football as “slow on the field but aggressive off-field”. The DFA is currently in the process of procuring equipment for play and involved in the training for club representatives among others. In wrapping up show, the Prime Minister broached the question of advancement in the development of sports and all three officials agreed that collaboration is the key for this advancement.
