BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - MINISTER OF SPORT Jonel Powell said that the recent victory by the St. Kitts-Nevis Patriots has brought an early independence gift to the people of the Federation and, with it, a sense of pride and joy.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots defeated the St. Lucia Kings by one wicket at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium on Wednesday (Sept. 15) to lift the franchise’s Caribbean Premier League title for the first time in its eight-year history.
While addressing reporters, the Minister said that the joy and pride is what the people of St. Kitts and Nevis needed ahead of independence, with the COVID-19 pandemic still around, something was needed to brighten their spirits.
“How better do you celebrate independence than St. Kitts-Nevis Patriots winning its first CPLT20 tournament right here on home field, it can’t get better than that,” the Minister emphasised.
The Government was successful in its bid to stage the entire 2021 Caribbean Premier League season in the Federation.
At the time, St. Kitts and Nevis had only recorded 45 cases of the virus with the outbreak limited only to those who were entering through the airport and were caught while in quarantine.
But since May 19, the island had seen significant community spread with many calling for the government to cancel its right to stage the event.
The Ministry of Sport, and by extension the Government, came in for heavy criticism for purchasing the staging rights for the tournament during the pandemic, and many speculated that the overall cost of the event was close to 20 million. A sum critics noted could have been spent in other areas.
But Minister Powell told reporters that the figures being bandied about were ridiculous and above the actual price. He however could not provide reporters with the exact cost due to a non-disclosure agreement that was signed between the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the organis;ers of the Caribbean Premier League to have it staged at Warner Park.
He noted that the end justified the means.
“Absolutely! I’ve heard a lot of rumours out there about ridiculous figures that the Government paid to get CPL here. Well, I am not at liberty to give the exact figure because I have signed a non-disclosure agreement. I can confidently say that we have made back our money in the first two weeks of this tournament,” explained Powell.
He added: “St. Kitts and Nevis has been better off hosting an entire CPL tournament here in St. Kitts, and the results are there”.
Describing the staging of a “successful tournament” as “ the most amazing thing ever”, Minister Powell said that the conclusion of the event without any COVID-19 outbreak puts all the critics and doubters to rest.
The ground staff and those who worked behind the scenes ensured that the tournament was held without any hiccups.
“A lot of people said it could not happen. The pitch held up right down to the end, the guys played a fantastic tournament...and kudos to all,” Powell told reporters on the sidelines of the final.
According to the Minister, approximately 500 people were directly hired by the organisers of the tournament in various capacities. He said that those persons were compensated in excess of EC$2 million during the first two weeks of the tournament alone.
That, however, does not speak to the other economic activities that were reported, including hotel accommodations.
Despite all the glowing reviews from the Minister of Sports, there were a number of logistical challenges faced by the local media during the three weeks of tournament coverage.
From being locked out of the designated area to being locked out of Warner Park, to, in some instances, having garbage left in the designated workroom for three days.
This was not limited to the media, the President of Cricket West Indies Ricky Skerritt during the start of one playing day was also locked out of the ground for an hour in the blazing morning sun. Minister of Tourism, Lindsay Grant had also faced the same challenge on the same day.
One CPL representative who was assigned to the local media covering the event apologised for challenges faced by the local press corp.
However, SKNVibes reporter assigned to the event, Jermine Abel, confirmed those reports, noting that most of the logistical work was not done by the CPL team but rather by a local organising committee put together by the Government.
The Minister emphasised that the success of the tournament came down to everyone playing their part.
