By Dr Richard Byron – Cox
Our Caribbean is virtually ablaze with the excitement of T20 cricket world cup. The cricketing world is presently infused with an experience where competition and the pure joy of playing the game are expressed in equal measure, with pictures and videos testifying of an event where patrons’ hearts overflow with contentment from the music, dancing, cheering, and the general merry-making they experience at every Caribbean venue of the games. This is no accident. The world came expecting, and we are delivering.
This fairytale, almost magical entertainment in the hosting of this world cup is the fruit of a combination of factors, including the Caribbean’s passion for the game, which generates a unique grassroots popular feeling, putting a soul into cricket which cannot be felt anywhere else, and which is contagious to others regardless from whence they come. Our sunshine-weather and majestic natural beauty, the up-tempo rhythms, our universal kaleidoscope in people, food, drink and culture, and the innate friendliness of our people, make for a mesmerising cricketing cocktail our visitors can’t but relish. Some of these gifts of nature are possessed by many peoples inhabiting this planet, but the Caribbean blend is made with extra flavour and flexibility, making it sweetly and spicily unique.
Even though blessed with all the above, we didn’t leave anything to chance in organising this extravaganza. We refurbished stadia and other venues, fixed streets and other public infrastructure, and made many other improvements to add lustre and brilliance to our hosting of this event. This all demanded significant mobilisation of human and other resources, but also the common will of a people, a type of universal unity if you wish. And this, incredible as it may seem, was achieved at all levels despite unwarranted opposition in some quarters.
Nationally, there were those who vehemently opposed SVG being a host, and did everything to convince John Public that this wasn’t an investment, but an expense that brough no benefit; it was merely the ego of a certain Ralph Gonsalves. But today, save and except the few poisoned with hate that blinds to any goodness, our country welcomes the event. Opposition politicians, former non-believers and agnostics, partial cricket fans and the disinterested, rally around our commitment to putting on a magnificent display. This is a moment of almost absolute unity of the nation. Hearing, seeing, and feeling it, is truly uplifting beauty. For once we are singing as a harmonised national choir, and it’s a happy song, silencing unpatriotic discordance.
Likewise, the rest of the region is inspired to show our best to the world as one unit. The MAM (Mia Amor Motley), publicly driving a spirit of Caribbean unity, has taken to social media calling us to be one in sharing with the rest of the world. There is a heralding of our team with people island hopping, supporting them at every venue, heeding Rudder’s call, “Rally around the West Indies.” It’s been a very long time since I saw the Caribbean so determinedly united behind the men in maroon. Even after Powell’s men lost to England, though very disappointed, the region keeps its faith in, and love for the Windies. This world cup has reminded us, that we were once the greatest team that ever played this sport, a greatness accomplished through unity, and may well be repeated, keeping the trophy here, if we affirm unity now.
And then there is the globally unity that we, the Caribbean are fostering as hosts of this world cup. I am enthralled looking at supporters and fans from opposing teams dancing, singing, merry-making together. Visitors follow our lead such that even the heartbreak of their team losing cannot conquer their spirit of joy, experiencing the Caribbean cricketing culture, yes, sweet calypso cricket. Anyone who observes the supporters of even the teams knocked out of the tournament, senses that they are still full of Caribbean cheer. They party in the arenas and on the streets; some joined as we sing and encourage our boys on. All of this is done naturally and with great fun; we unite with them in the cause of the game we love in common; because of a celebration we are having in common; because we are unified in common humanity. What this T20 world cup hosting has demonstrated in no uncertain terms, is that we can let unity reign, and when we do, the result is an uplifting celebrated beauty that brings out the very best in us.