What is going on with school sports? This event, which usually takes place around this time, meaning between September and December is nowhere to be seen fueling speculation that the powers that be have axed it from the term’s agenda.
Efforts to get someone from the Ministry of Sports, The Ministry of Education or even the Saint Lucia Physical Education Teachers’ Association (SLUPETA) were futile.
Are the sports suspended for this term but will be held during the next school term? Is the event cancelled or postponed indefinitely?
The Ministries of Sports and Education were expected to issue a joint statement on the matter however prior to press time yesterday no such statement has been issued.
According to Saint Lucia Times on October 17 and 18, the netball and football fixtures were shared. Youth Development & Sports informed the student-athletes of the netball competition and its schedule.
The first round of netball games was postponed on Monday, according to school announcements. After that, word got out on Tuesday that the first term would be devoid of team sports, to divide up the competitions between the second and third terms.
Saint Lucia Times noted that on Thursday afternoon, the two ministries had convened an emergency meeting from which a preliminary plan for the future was established, adding that Playoffs for the under-19 boys’ football season will take place during the final week of classes this semester.
Furthermore, there will be a shortened netball event for the under-19 age group. The start of the second semester in January will mark the commencement of the under-19 basketball season and the third trimester is when all Under-15 competitions will be held.
“The suggestions have not been finalised yet,” the Times stated.