OECS Secretariat, Castries St. Lucia September 7th, 2009: The sport of Cricket is being considered for introduction to the annual OECS sports calendar of events. This is among plans by the new head of the OECS Sports Desk Denis James: “Yes I will definitely try to see that cricket is on the OECS sports calendar.

 It can be washed out very easily because the weather plays a significant part, but we can look at the shorter version of the game which attracts huge crowds and lots of excitement. It is very much a spectator sport. It could also help to improve spectator participation as well as overall interest in cricket in the OECS. Definitely cricket will be considered for introduction to the OECS sports calendar.”

James told the OECS News Link he looks forward to making his contribution to deepening regional integration through Sports: “I am just happy to be associated with the OECS sports programme and I think that within the organisation we could do a lot to help the OECS sports programme continue to deepen the functional corporation among the OECS Member States. The OECS sports programme brings out the best of our OECS athletes. This is very good for the OECS. We however need to try to tighten up some of the biting issues that we have in executing the programmes of the OECS Sports Desk. By this we would further embrace young people, bring sports persons closer together, share organizational abilities and enhance a lot of our OECS people and their skills.

Commenting on the potential in OECS athletes, James referred to recent performances at events such as the 2009 World Championships in Germany; I think we can take some lessons from the recently concluded world games and take heart that our OECS athletes did well for themselves, whether it be doing their personal best or improving national records. I also think that with the performance of Jamaica now, we in the OECS can see that the Caribbean can compete at the world stage. So the OECS can look up to Jamaica instead of looking up to the United States and other larger nations of the world and see that right here in the Caribbean we can do it. It is up to us to learn from Jamaica, Trinidad, Bahamas and Barbados work with their organizations, and see where we can improve on our track athletes as well as other disciplines such as football, netball and so on.-James

Denis James who is a former National Cricket Association President, joined the OECS Secretariat as Programme Officer for Sports on Tuesday September 1st 2009. 

James has replaced David Peterkin who demitted office in July of this year. Both the former and present head of the OECS Sports Desk met at the OECS Secretariat on Friday September 4th to discuss ways of facilitating the continuation of the OECS Sports Programme. Peterkin, says there will be further discussions with James towards facilitating the smooth continuation of events on the OECS Sports calendar. James described Friday’s meeting with his predecessor as revitalizing.