Well, if there’s one thing, we don’t need nobody to teach us, it’s the fine art of “sporting”!! And if you’re Guyanese, you’d know that our “sporting” has nothing to do with “sport” – like in playing games!! Which doesn’t mean we don’t make that kind of “sport” into sporting!! And that brings us to the matter at hand – the sporting we introduced into our CPL cricket tournament and dubbed it “Cricket Carnival”. When this was launched in 2020 – to coincide with the finals that were to be held here – your Eyewitness had railed at imitating the Trini Carnival that had come out of their historical experience – while we were just cogging!!
He’d groped to find some indigeneity in the cultural expression displayed – but could find nothing – just like with the “Carnival” launched by the PNC during their Independence bash after they took office in 2015. They say culture comes out of the experiences of the people at the bottom and its expressions may be polished and displayed by the artistes in the society. This was what Eric Williams had done in Trinidad with Pan and kaiso etc as part of their Carnival – which was brought there by the French planters fleeing the Haitian revolution. Hence J’ouvert!! This then, is a failure to develop a community of artistes in our country.
But your Eyewitness is pleased to note that over the last four years, the organisers have evidently taken note of the critique and have broadened our Cricket Celebrations beyond the standard skimpily-clad women jumping up and winding down behind sound trucks through the streets of Georgetown. The events started from September 19 and continued till last night with “Cricket Finals after Party” – which should be renamed ““Cricket Finals after Sport!!” There was a Berbice Chutney show which allowed the local talent outside of GT to strut their stuff – and for the long suffering and economically depressed Berbicians due to the PNC’s callous shuttering of those sugar estates – to enjoy themselves at least for a night!
But did your Eyewitness miss that Horseracing meet which had been scheduled for Sept 29 at the Rising Sun Turf Club in Reg 5?? Horseracing’s a sport that inspires much sporting over in Berbice – which has kept the tradition going after racing was scrapped at Durban Park in GT. There were also the Food Festivals – featuring Chicken and Duck Curry, of course, at several locales – which were accompanied by indigenous beer and rum to fuel the sporting!!
Your Eyewitness is pecking away on this piece before the finals have been played between our Warriors and the St Lucia Kings. He’s predicting that our boys will emerge victorious.
And what a grand sport will follow!!
…other cricket
…cricket
Well now that the T-20 Exxon CPL Tournament – and the Cricket Carnival to which it’s now joined to the hip – are over, let’s talk a bit about cricket in its wider context. Meaning that since clearly the place of cricket in our hearts is unquestioned, we gotta ensure it’s well taken care of. Can’t take it for granted!! So since we mentioned “schools”, why not make it compulsory that every school – Primary and Secondary – have a cricket program??
And don’t say it can’t be done?? Back in the day – when conditions quite dire under the “Brits’ colonial jackboots boots according to our political leaders – that was the case, so why not now that oil money is gushing into our coffers!??! While the Brits might’ve selectively and opportunistically used the rules of cricket – who can doubt they build team spirit, cooperation, integrity, pride and most of all – rewards merit, regardless of one wealth or lack thereof!!
With cricket in schools maybe we might even straighten out our politics?!! Dreamin’?
…next year Finals
We’re told that next year’s CPL finals gonna be held in our dear Mudland – more specifically at Providence Stadium!! Can you imagine the joy of the Westsiders who’ll cross over on the new fixed-span DHB??
