The power of sport

The Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2014 tournament is not yet over, but still, it has pleasantly reminded us of the power and influence of sport, and in the Guyana and Caribbean context, cricket is uniting our oftentimes divided people. Thus far in the tournament, we have seen fans jumping in joy, waving flags of support, blaring horns, and engaging in light banter, among others, in a picnic, carnival-like atmosphere.

In Guyana, the tournament had witnessed some of the biggest and most vocal crowds since the commencement last month. During the matches, fans had their money’s worth, even for the ‘grudge’ match, where the Jamaica Tallawahs managed to overcome the Guyana Amazon Warriors in a game that went down to the wire.

But aside from this, much to the delight of enthusiastic fans, the Amazon Warriors ambushed the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel to tie the match, then melted them down in the super over, before moving on to conquer the St Lucia Zouks. The renewed life and excitement that the matches have generated, created an atmosphere of one akin to a utopia, leaving many asking why only three matches were played in Guyana, in many ways a cricket-hungry nation.

No doubt, the “Biggest Party in Sport” has infected Guyanese and Caribbean cricket fans, and probably created some, with its contagious spirit of unity in rivalry, love and togetherness, the celebration of Caribbean identity and its uniqueness, and ultimately a series of rocking parties, where there is no winner or loser, but a celebration of Caribbean cricketing talents.

At home, the positive mood that Limacol CPL has brought was welcoming, but most importantly refreshing, as it has provided an important relief from cheap, bitter and divisive politics and politicians, who often pursue narrow and selfish interests at all costs.

The citizenry at the beginning of the 10th Parliament had to contend with the vicious and vociferous even though outlandish move by the Opposition to gag Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee. Millions of dollars were spent on a couple sittings to blabber about a non-issue.

Then the repeated cutting of the budget which still continues, along with the cries of persons being put on the breadline, followed by the voting down of funding for the Amaila Falls, the Specialty Hospital and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion projects.

And most recently, the non-support of the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, resulting in the country being blacklisted by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), while remaining vulnerable of being blacklisted internationally by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

No one wants bad for their country as at the end of the day, Guyana is for Guyanese, and the spirit of Guyanese in unity, harmony and pride was on full display during the Limacol CPL matches. It is unfortunate that this passionate love for their country is not fully embraced by the people they voted for to represent them in the House.

What this tells us is that the brinkmanship, divisiveness and bitterness that have thus far emanated from the 10th Parliament is not reflective of the view and will of the populace but some men stuck in the political morass of hopelessness entrusted with the duty to lead.

Evidently, from the fervour created by the Guyana matches, Guyanese see life beyond mundane politics, and want to see an end to the parliamentary impasse, as it is time the politics of nothingness must stop.

Limacol CPL is the most powerful reminder yet that sport is a great force for fostering unity, harmonious understanding, love, respect and tolerance, and transcends all racial, religious and political barriers and creed.

The matches in Guyana might have left many politicians with a situation to ponder – that perhaps sport can be used as an avenue to break the political deadlock that has dogged the 10th Parliament, which seems to have banished all forms of compromise.