Saint Lucia is fully prepared to host its leg of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, according to Member of Parliament for Gros Islet, Kenson Casimir.
Despite occasional criminal activity in the northern community, Casimir assures the public that stringent security measures are in place for the hosting of the global sports event.
Government officials, law enforcement officers, and stakeholders are collaborating to ensure a smooth and incident-free global sports event Casimir said, emphasizing that Saint Lucia has a strong track record in hosting global events with excellent safety and security.
He believes that sports can positively impact communities and provide opportunities for skill development.
Casimir recalled that there has never been a time, where hosting sporting events in the country has been marred by violent disruptions or criminal activity. Contrarily, he said, sports can be viewed as a vehicle for change with opportunities to develop one’s abilities.
Noting the value of sports and its merit in bridging communities, Casimir added: “I feel sports is the answer to ensure that people are better engaged, young people are given platform to ply their skills and that is why we’ve had a Semi-Professional League.”
The Semi-Professional Football League (SPFL) has already yielded dividends for players, coaches, and administrators.
Casimir acknowledges that while sports programmes contribute to overall development, there is no single solution to curbing crime. Nonetheless, he emphasizes the importance of engaging young people through the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports.
The sports minister added, “That is why we have a High-Performance Centre for cricket, that is why we have High Performance Programme for football through Stewart Charles and Earl “Ball Hog” Jean (former professional and national players).”
Casimir is optimistic about the timely intervention and inroads being made towards the overall development of sports on the island.
“I really do believe that with some of those programmes, the time factor will yield the results that we want, but I don’t think that there is any one answer that will curb any crime situation at this present moment,” he stressed.
Nonetheless, said the sports minister, “I feel it is important for every minister and ministry to do their part in ensuring that you engage young people …and (at) the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports we continue do that.”
The Minister for National Security and the Commissioner of Police are actively involved in the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to ensure a safe event.
Meanwhile, speaking on the traffic management plans in effect for the Beausejour community, he said, the authorities met wit residents from the area and its vicinity to assess their concerns and liaise with them about “access to their homes, their friends and relatives …and some of the infrastructural works that we have undertaken.”
The Gros Islet MP said more than 160 residents turned for a subsequent meeting, and “we were able to do both a digital and physical registration for individuals to have parking and constant flow to and from their homes,” he said.