With plans underway to celebrate the Saint Lucia Kings’ inaugural Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title, Minister for Youth Development and Sports Kenson Casimir has defended the government’s continued financial support of the team amidst public queries.
The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) and Casimir’s ministry are two of the team’s key partners.
However, some members of the public have taken to social media to question why the government continues to invest in the Indian-owned cricket franchise.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Minister Casimir emphasised that external assistance, in collaboration with Saint Lucia’s government, is vital for the development of sports on the island.
Responding to critics, he stated: “It’s a very myopic way to look at what has happened over the last six months in Saint Lucia simply because we cannot function in isolation as a small territory.”
“We would not have been able to have the success we had this year if we did not have outside influence in significant ways.
“From Julien Alfred attending Texas University to the Saint Lucia Kings investing in our young people like Ackeem Auguste, who made a significant contribution, Shadrack Descarte even in the field, and John Eugene coming on as a fielding coach…it is absolutely tremendous what they have done to contribute to the development of cricket in Saint Lucia.”
The statements were similar to the minister’s remarks during Monday’s pre-cabinet press briefing, where he highlighted the influence of the CPL franchise in aiding the development of young Saint Lucian players.
“We have 11 cricketers for the first time in our history, playing [regional cricket] on that level. The Saint Lucia Kings, they provided care and they provided funding [for] trips to some of our coaches, so we can further develop cricket in this nation,” he said.
“They’ve invested in some of our premier cricketers – Shadrack Descarte, Johnson Charles, in times past Johnnel Eugene, McKenny Clarke, just to name a few. If we have gotten to this momentous occasion, where we finally won a CPL with so many of our young players on the fringes of breaking into that CPL team, how much damage can we do by showing our appreciation to the franchise, to the cricketers who played?”
Local government support for privately-owned sports teams is not uncommon globally.
For example, English Premier League clubs sometimes receive infrastructure support, especially when stadiums impact city economies.
For instance, Manchester City’s Etihad Campus received development support from Manchester City Council to improve transportation links and stimulate local job growth.
The cooperation exemplifies the synergy between city planning and high-level sports, even when the United Arab Emirates-based City Football Group owns the club.
Similarly, the Maharashtra government in India has collaborated with the Mumbai Indians to host IPL matches at Wankhede Stadium.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, they waived taxes and supported renovations to ensure safety measures, recognizing the economic benefits these events bring to local vendors and hospitality businesses.
For Saint Lucia, the CPL’s economic impact in 2022 was estimated at 11.5 million USD, considering spending on accommodation, dining, and local transportation, according to a survey commissioned by the CPL itself.
Additionally, the franchise has assisted with player and coach development at the grassroots level.
November 12 will be another symbolic handshake between the Saint Lucia government and the Kings, when the government hosts a celebratory concert in their honour at Derek Walcott Square.
