Ramson Jr makes appeal for more community-based cricket

Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr is making a strong appeal to start developing cricket at the community level once again, lamenting that the sport is slowly losing its fire at that level.
The Minister made those remarks at the recent launch of the Lotto/Let’s Bet T10 Tapeball Blast, where cricket at the community level was a major topic.
The Sport Minister divulged, “When we sat down and discussed how we’re going to organise the tournament, the format, the community-based aspect was critical. The success of the West Indies in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, their success – there was an inextricable link to the fact that they used to play their games in the community. They played all the regional tournaments at the community level.”
Referencing venues such as Enmore, Albion, Hampton Court, Lusignan, Port Mourant, Skeldon and Blairmont, the Minister lamented that major tournaments are no longer contested at such venues.

“All of these places were known homes, at the community level, where people from all walks of life, excited about the game,” Ramson Jr explained, “The passion that we have for the sport, that they would come with their families, with their kids and watched the sport.”
“What did that do? Let me tell you what it did, it unlocked an ignition of talent. It put the key into the ignition, that is the process upon which talent commences, because when they see the players and they admire them, and they’re imagining themselves becoming those great players, it starts there, at the very basic, youth level.”
“We’ve lost that,” Ramson Jr rued.
The Minister went on to detail how international regulations have contributed to the current state.
He disclosed, “The international regulations that have come for us hosting regional tournaments have hurt us in the West Indies, it has hurt us. Our willingness to say that we want to match, meet and surpass ICC [International Cricket Council] standards to host regional tournaments, as though we can proceed with blinders on, has hurt the love for the sport at the community level.”
“And that is why I’m insisting that this tournament and all of the tournaments that we play, including the youth regional tournaments, that it must remain a community-level sport that is played,” Ramson Jr remarked, offering a solution to the issue.
This led the Sport Minister to discuss his Ministry’s efforts to ensure community grounds are up to standard and ready for use.
“We’re investing in community grounds across this country. Yes, we’re hurt because there’s a lot of rain in the last five months that makes it impossible to have games at those community grounds, but there’re 450 community grounds across this country that we’re investing in, leaving aside the hinterland (around 700 including hinterland grounds). What brings those community grounds to life is the activity, the tournaments,” Ramson Jr added.