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09th Feburary 2010
National Awards taking shape
Anthony De Beauville

It’s going to be a celebration with a difference, that’s the big news coming from the Department of Youth and Sports in St.Lucia as plans are continuing to ensure that this year’s National Sports Awards that is slated for Saturday 20th February 2010 at the Gaiety on Rodney Bay in Gros Islet will be one to remembered for many years to come.
At a press briefing held at the conference room of the Department of Youth and Sports to discuss a number of issues regarding this annual event, for once members of the media played a key role in the discussions which centered on nominations by associations for their top athletes, criteria for selecting the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, Media House and Media Worker for the last twelve months.
In 2009 for the first time in the history of the annual event four media workers boycotted the event that was based on sitting arrangements. One thing for certain the organizers have made a commitment to members of the media that there will not be a repeat of that scenario.
Interestingly one now needs to ask the question, Are we really serious when it comes to sports in this country? With a Thursday 21st January deadline for their nomination for Junior Sportsman and Sportswoman and Senior Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, Association of the Year, Outstanding Administrators, Coaches and Media, only 15 out of 25 National Sports Associations delivered their nomination documents on time to the Department of Youth and Sports on the waterfront in Castries.
At the press briefing, a short list of nominees for the prestigious awards was officially announced, Junior Sportsman – Athletics - Lenye Leonce, Cricket - Dalton Polius, Swimming, Joshua Runako Daniel; Junior Sportswoman - Athletics -Sandisha Antoine, and Siona Huxley representing Swimming;. Sportswoman Beijing Olympians Swimming: - Danielle Beaubrun and Athletics, Levern Spencer Cricket, Maria David; Volleyball, Dania Hamilton. Sportsman: Athletics –Zepherinus Joseph, Cycling, Kurt Maraj; Swimming, Julian Brice; Table Tennis, Adrian Albert, Cricket – Darren Sammy
The question was asked re nomination papers not being handed in on time by a number of associations, the experience Schools Curriculum Officer attached to the Ministry of Education, Social Transformation, Youth and Sports Michael Pierre said, “This has been happening for sometime now and unfortunately there is nothing in place to penalize associations for such behaviour. In truth and in fact what the associations are presently doing is a grave injustice to those Sportsmen and Sportswomen who over the past twelve months performed at the highest level and cannot be recognized, that is a spot of bother.”
 
 

Four associations namely: - Cricket, Swimming, Athletics and Netball, associations were given thumbs up for the manner in which they presented their nomination papers. Pierre also believes it is disturbing that very few associations nominated a Media House or Media Person of the Year; reasons for which remain a mystery.
Pierre further went on to say “I hope this is not an indication of how the various associations view the media, getting that kind of feedback re the media is somewhat puzzling.”
The criteria and personnel for selecting Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year also came under review. An independent committee has that responsibility, but like everything else in life there have been accusations of “Preferences to say the least” when it comes to judging. In other Caribbean countries, selecting the top four athletes for the prestigious awards is left up to the media and while he had reservations with that procedure, Pierre had an open mind and said “ It is interesting and believes this is an area the Department of Youth and Sports could look at to enhance the product.”
“The Department of Youth and Sports have an open mind in regarding the National Sports Awards ,Pierre said. This year the department has actually listened to the feedback and comments and for this reason, is in partnership with ACCELA to assist in helping to plan and deliver a better product for Sports Awards 2009 celebrations.
No stranger to events like these following her introduction by Micheal Pierre that chaired the meeting, Agnes Francis of ACCELA Marketing said, It is not their intention to change the event completely, but try to establish what the vision was for the event, understand what the issues were and the things that were right and wrong. Based on that she said, ACCELA would try to enhance the event for all to enjoy.
She went on to say what ACCELA will do is provide the Public Relation for the event, create a theme, design and concept for the night and provide video profiles of the nominees. HTS Winston Springer Jr will be the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Interestingly like previous year’s there will not be a guest speaker in the house. Meanwhile, the second in a series of Media briefing is scheduled for Thursday 11th February commencing from 10:00 am

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