THE CARIBBEAN and the Americas have been encouraged to emulate the West Indies cricket team and former world champion of draughts Ronald “Suki” King by taking the sport of dominoes and lifting it to a level even beyond the abilities and imagination of the originators of the game.
The sage advice came from Prime Minister Freundel Stuart as he delivered the feature address at the closing ceremony of the 16th World Council Federation Of Dominoes Championships at the Sea Rocks Dome, Maxwell, Christ Church last week Friday night.
“Because a game did not begin with us does not mean that we cannot take it and raise it to a level far beyond the imagination of those who originated it in the first place. We took a game called cricket and raised it to a level that those who created it could not understand. We took a game that we did not create and transformed it that it was the envy of those who brought it to us and we can do the same thing with the domino game,” said Stuart.
Speaking to a large gathering of players from ten-time champions, Barbados, runners-up Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Guyana and the United States; president of the local body, Cedric Alleyne; president of the international body, Dudley Harris; and acting director of sports Neil Murrell, the Prime Minister gave an extensive history of the development of the sport worldwide and also highlighted the symbolism of how players can use the sport of dominoes to succeed in life.
Stuart complimented the players for the comradeship and camaraderie which they displayed in spite of spending the previous days competing against each other fiercely.
“While we play games we want to win but we should not make winning the end-all of playing sports. How we lose and how we behave when we lose is just as important as how we behave when we win,” stated Stuart.
While indicating that he could not be placed in the bracket of being a good domino player, Stuart pointed out that just like life one could not determine what hand you would pull in a game of dominoes.
“As in life, you have to play the hand that you have drawn to the best of your ability recognising that at times you will win and at times someone else will win,” he noted.
Even though Stuart complimented the organisers for putting together a very successful tournament, he cautioned president Dudley Harris over his predictions that Antigua and Barbuda could become the champions in the 2016 tournament.
“Mr Harris has put on his prophet’s hat in predicting that Antigua and Barbuda could win the next championship….And, as a qualified lawyer I can tell you that fortune telling is still against the law on Barbados’ books,” said Stuart to loud laughter.
Barbados captured four titles and the crown for a record tenth time while Charmaine Carter took the MVP accolade for the Bajans.
Antigua and Barbuda won three individual titles. They were also the Best Team On Parade while Anguilla was voted the Most Disciplined Team.
