Head of the OECS Sports Desk David Peterkin hosted the newly appointed Sports Director at the Caricom Secretariat John Campbell on Thursday March 3 rd 2005 at the OECS Secretariat. This first official conference between the two regional sports administrators covered several issues relating to the technical, social and human resource advancement for sports in the region. 

Campbell, Caricom’s first appointee as Sports Director remarked that the meeting, a fact finding mission, was essentially to establish ways in which the Caricom Secretariat can assist in implementing programmes within the OECS.

“The discussions were fruitful. It was a learning experience that provided first hand information on the programmes and strategies within the OECS Sports fixture.”- Campbell

He added that there is still a lot of ground to cover to facilitate sports development in the region.

Peterkin is pleased to have met Campbell who he describes as having a passion for sports as a valuable tool for the development of young people and societies as a whole.

Both are advocates that sports should be placed higher on the region’s agenda. However they warn that such priority has to be sold to the region’s governments.

“We have to do in our jobs what is necessary to ensure that the level of management and administration in sports, if we have any say in it, gets to a much higher level and then we can approach the government and say listen, we are doing things much more professionally and as a result we need more from you in resources and commitment. So with both voices and both programmes going, the way forward looks good.”-Peterkin

Peterkin says the sharing of ideas and best practices will continue between both regional integration institutions for the betterment of the Caribbean.

This meeting of the minds at the Castries based, OECS Sports Desk also looked at Sports Tourism.

John and David also looked at the delicate issue of facilities and voiced concern that white elephants may crop up especially after the Caribbean hosts World Cup Cricket in 2007.

Both Sports Directors have common concerns such as the need for a more sound structure at the grass roots level and the need for sports organisations to be more developed. Peterkin says it will be great if he and Campbell can meet at least twice a year.

For further information please contact:

David Peterkin, Head, OECS Sports Desk email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Senior Communications Officer Kendol Morgan at Tel: (758) 452-2537 ext 8120 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Communications Officer Raymond O’Keiffe at Tel: (758) 452-2537 ext: 8121 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it