WHEN THE UWI CAVE HILL CAMPUS CRICKET TEAM captured the Barbados Cricket Association’s LIME Elite Division championship last weekend, it was a crowning moment for them. Not only was it an unprecedented fourth consecutive title for the cricketers, but it capped what has been a remarkable year in sports for the campus in a variety of sporting disciplines.
Historically the UWI has not placed emphasis on sport in a region that for even longer than the university itself has existed has been producing world-class sportspeople. The emphasis, and understandably so, had been on capacity building to meet the region’s development needs. This has worked to our advantage.
However, we have seen that sport and the performing arts – the cultural industries – have reaped greater benefits for the region than even what our brilliant scholars have been able to garner. Not even our Nobel laureates Sir Arthur Lewis and Derek Walcott have had the international impact and appeal of Bob Marley and Rihanna; Sir Garfield Sobers and Brian Lara; Usain Bolt or the steel pan, on people across the world. These soft areas have built the Caribbean brand unlike any other.
To his credit, Sir Hilary Beckles had the correct vision when he charted a multidisciplinary approach in his path to progress for the section of the University of the West Indies that he leads. Clearly while not de-emphasizing the research and academic aspects at the campus, he has set about developing a sports programme which has begun to reap success. There is a clear philosophy.
We would not want to measure success only by way of the titles the teams are winning in their various disciplines nor by the selection of individuals to represent either the campus or the country at regional or international levels.
Rather, it has been the establishment of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in sports of which we speak. These academic courses have opened new opportunities both for the individual and will ultimately do so for various sporting disciplines. We expect to reap the successes within a decade. The programmes are in place.
It is clear that the mission of the Cave Hill Campus under Sir Hilary’s watch is for it to become a major sports centre in Barbados. The Sagicor High Performance Centre will undoubtedly give the cricketers an edge and be of significance to the West Indies team.
We expect that when the football field and the Ryan Brathwaite track and field facility are fully operational these should also bring improved results in these areas. Even in these tough economic times the hope is that the campus can continue this expansion with Olympic swimming and diving pools next on the card. There has been a clear facilities plan.
The UWI Cave Hill Campus has had strong support from corporate Barbados for its sports initiative. That support needs to continue and indeed be enhanced. Barbados stands to benefit.
