That is the plea from veteran politician and sports organiser, Hamilton Lashley who said Caribbean leaders need to look more seriously at revamping regional air travel which has become extremely expensive and cumbersome.
Speaking ahead of the start of the seventh annual Caribbean Children’s Charity Shield Soccer Classic, scheduled for August 17th – 28th, Lashley said to move across the region to compete some organisers, teams and individuals are forced to charter flights. He went further and maintained that an inefficient air travel system is an impediment to the rights of Caribbean citizens.
“It is having a negative impact on sporting events, the players and even the countries where events are being held. Caribbean people expect that part of their rights as a citizen of CARICOM is to move easily through the region. Something must be done,” he said.
This year’s Soccer Classic will be held at the Blenheim and Dover Playing fields and is expected to host 200 players in three categories – U13, U15 and U17. Teams are coming from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Lucia and Barbados.
They will be competing in the respective categories for the Egbert ‘Dads’ McClean Trophy, in memory of the late Trinidadian and co-founder of the Soccer Classic, the Joycelyn Miller Memorial Trophy and the Gerald Garcia Challenge Trophy.
Barbados is the defending champion in the U13, while T&T took top spot in both the U15 and U17 age groups in the last tournament held in Grenada in 2020, which also saw St. Lucia, Grenada and Guyana compete.
The Caribbean Children’s Charity Shield So
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CARICOM met recently for its 50 th anniversary. With all the fanfare about The 50th it came and pass without pin dropping.
I have not seen one single readout of what was achieved. I saw the photo op with Gaston and the former Senator of Connecticut.
CARICOM is among the Caribbean institutions failing its people.
It is true that air travel across the Caribbean has become expensive and cumbersome where it exists.
But I beg to differ with the former politician Hamilton Lashley.
Air travel is not a right.
Education is a right.
Health care services is a right;
Safety and security is a right, and good government is a right.
If the airline Inter Caribbean can get their act together, and compete with Caribbean Airlines who is rolling out service across the Caribbean, then the Caribbean may have competitive airline service in the not to distant future.
If LIAT gets rid of the albatrosses around its neck, it too could play a role in providing niche airline services.
We have become a culture where we tolerate incompetence, and allow the loudest voices prevail.
Until we as Caribbean people wake up , the region will continue in its slow walk in mediocrity.
Air travel should not be such a challenge.
Caribbean seniors remains in charge holding on to power with outdated political philosophies and education policies.
The undereducated younger generations are obsessed with social media platforms trying to keep up with the alternative sources of laughable behaviors.
Sports can be the vehicle to more credible sources of education, than the regional educational offering.
Success in sports can lead to quality education, which is a right.
Better “regional air transport is a resource” we need without a doubt.
Agreed, travel is not a right.
Parts of this article is very vague.
Where is Blenheim and Dover playing field ?
Throughout the Caribbean we have become increasingly skilled at determining what are the problems. Unfortunately we have become increasingly apathetic, disjointed and confused as to finding a solution to this vexing issue amongst our peoples. So while we lament and castigate each other and hope that a fairy godfather/godmother we will be unable to find a longterm solution and our peoples will continue to experience difficulties.
Agreed, travel is not a right.
Parts of this article is very vague.
Where is Blenheim and Dover playing field ?
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