Principal of the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, has criticized bureaucratic inefficiencies which have stymied the completion of world-class facilities at Paradise Park for the past five years.
Speaking at an awards and celebration ceremony for the Cave Hill Blackbirds’ capture of the 27th Biennial UWI Games, Sir Hilary was full of praise for the athletes, management and coaches as well as his Deputy Principal, Professor Eudine Barriteau, who gave her all to assist Cave Hill to take their fifth title.
However, in a tone of incredulity, the outspoken academic termed it unbelievable that five years ago Cave Hill was granted land at Paradise Park to establish a facility with the notion that the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation’s antennae would have been relocated.
Sir Hilary disclosed that the struggling Barbados world-class athlete Ryan Brathwaite had contacted the campus a few weeks ago to indicate that he wanted to come home and train at the track which was named after him two years ago.
“Sadly, we had to tell Mr Brathwaite that that was not possible as we were embarrassed that the track was still in a container waiting for the antennae to be moved,” he said.
The visionary leader said the bureaucratic dithering was preventing Cave Hill from fulfilling its obligations to the students, the country and the region.
“Paradise Park will become one of the finest sporting venues in the Caribbean with the completion of the track, the football stadium, the basketball, tennis and swimming facilities,” Sir Hilary promised.
He added that the latest indication was that the antennae would be moved in October.
Sir Hilary said that it would be a sad day if Cave Hill went off to defend their title the next two years and Paradise Park was still on hold.
Nevertheless, he hinted that innovations to complement current sporting programmes with additional academic programmes were in the pipeline.
On the whole, the night proved to be a joyous one for Sir Hilary, who joined Barriteau in planting a kiss on the trophy captured by Cave Hill.
Earlier in the evening volleyball MVP Dania Hamilton spoke of the commitment and hard work which contributed to the Blackbirds’ success.
Hamilton, who was also the Best Spiker, advised her teammates to behave like champions to reinforce the culture of winning for the next generation of Blackbirds who will be defending the title in Jamaica in 2013.
Hamilton, who is also the captain of St Lucia’s national team and the Barbados Volleyball Association’s MVP for 2010, joined Alain London in picking up multi-titles in volleyball, with London taking the Best Setter, Best Server and MVP awards.
