Members of Parliament, officials of The West Indies and Windward Islands Cricket Boards, players, officials, coaches, sports commentators and media.
On behalf of the people of Roseau Central, whom I represent, I bid you a very warm welcome to Dominica, the Nature Island of the Caribbean, and the home of such great Caribbean cricketers and officials like Norbert Phillip, Irvin Shillingford, Lockhart Sebastien, Billy Doctrove and the late Grayson Shillingford and Keleb Laurent. Welcome back Shane Shillingford
I thank the Organizers for inviting me to address this official opening of the Windward Islands 20/20 Cricket competition, and I extend Congratulations to all the
Players who have made it to this high level in Caribbean Cricket.
I wish you success, as you strive on in your cricket careers.
Here in Dominica want to extend a special word of encouragement to Captain Sebastien, and to Shane Shillingford, who is making his comeback to Ist Class Cricket. Shane, I say to you, be focused, be consistent,and the wickets will come.
The Sharon Gregoire Cricket Academy
In Roseau here, I wish to single out Ms. Sharon Gregoire for operating her Cricket Academy and her dedication in molding some of our youth in Roseau. And also I wish to encourage young Ricardo Cognet from Cork Street whom I see has the potential to become one of the great West Indies players.
The Message
My brief message to you is: “Caribbean Cricket is More than Bat and Ball.”
In support of this, I draw from comments published in CaribWorldNews, . Aug. 11, 2009 by David Hinds, lecturer in Caribbean and African Diaspora studies, at Arizona State University.
He writes “My approach to cricket goes beyond runs and wickets. It is premised on the Jamesian approach, which was continued by Tim Hector and currently finds voice in the work of Professor Hilary Beckles. This approach conceptualizes cricket as more than a game of bat and ball on the field of play and locates it in the wider historical struggles of the Caribbean and its quest for nationhood and freedom. The indomitable CLR James made this case in his classic, Beyond a Boundary, which should be mandatory reading for every West Indian cricketer and every West Indian schoolchild. West Indian cricket is the finest in the West Indian tradition. This is more than bat and ball.”
Let’s Make Cricket Education a Must
I therefore send out a call to the leaders of our Education System to ensure that we teach cricket to all our Caribbean students from kindergarten to University, its history and what it means to our Caribbean identity.
Hinds continues, “The Frank Worrell, Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards teams took Caribbean nationalism, in all its manifestations, wherever they played….. the players had the capacity to recognize the relationship between their individual skills and their socio-political responsibilities. Their exploits created new generations of Caribbean people who looked the world in its eyes as equals….Caribbean cricket is in trouble today, not because we don`t have cricketers with natural skills, but because our cricketers are unable to marry those skills with a larger social responsibility…”
It is from among you, the new leaders of Caribbean Cricket will come.
“And because the present crisis is rooted in the wider crisis of Caribbean identity, any new leader must have a clear sense of his/her identity. “
You must be able to marry your skills with your community responsibility.
It is therefore very important that as you dedicate time and effort to building up your skills, you commit equal time and effort to studying the history of Caribbean Cricket, to learning about the lives of the great Caribbean cricketers ( Frank Worrel, Sobers, Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Brian Lara. Irving Shillingford), in order that you can become fully culturally grounded in the essence of the Caribbean civilization, Caribbean social and cricket history, and Caribbean community. With this you can build a clear sense of your Caribbean identity and as a first class cricketer, understand your mission in rebuilding Caribbean cricket on the Cricket field, and Caribbean Community beyond the boundary.
Finally, As you strive for more runs and more wickets: I urge you, remember, Caribbean Cricket is more than bat and ball. It is the very heart of our Caribbean Community. The State of our Cricket reflects the state of our Caribbean Community.
Dominica, Waitukubuli welcomes you. Mabrika.
.
THE OPENING CEREMONY WAS OF A VERY LOW STANDARD. MY MAIN PROBLEM IS WITH THE DRESSING OF THE DOMINICAN OFFICALS. DOMINICAN CRICKET OFFICIALS MUST REALISE THAT CRICKET IS A GAME OF CLASS. WHEN CRICKET GAMES ARE HELD IN OTHER COUNTRIES, ALL OFFICIALS ARE DRESSED IN THEIR BLAZERS AND TIE. THE DOMINICAN OFFICALS WERE DRESSED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A DRINK IN THE ROADSIDE BAR. THE OFFICIALS THAT WERE IN BLAZERS AND TIES WERE FOREIGNERS. DOMINICAN CRICKET OFFICIALS MUST LOOK THE PART AND DRESS APPROPRIATELY FOR THE OCCASION.
when ever i see or listen to mr prevost speak
i’m saying what a shame .
peace out yeah!!!!!!!!!!!
i would really like to know why joel mingo is not playing when he is one of the best??? whats up with the coach not putting him in??? sometimes coaches has to put there differences that they have with players aside and pick a team that will bring victory to our island!!!
i cant understand why joel mingo wasnt on the final 11 yesterday someone please explain that to me
this opening ceremony had the worst cricketing speeches i have ever heard. they have no idea about cricket and the cricketers. not even aware of darren sammy and shane shillingford absence. poor very poor commentary. guess ozie was tired and the other guy is no commentator at all. can d/ca produce another cricket commentator?
didn’t hear it myself but heard a DCA official also addressed the President and his wife as Mr and Mrs Signoret.. lol
Hahaha – very funny if this is a joke but if its the truth this is just plain out shameful
Jeff Charles was the best and still is the best in my heart and other Dominicans’ heart, that’s why we need to name the media centre at the windsor park stadium, “The Jeff Charles Media Centre”. Wouldn’t you agree? Sure! why not.
Folks, it is about time that we listen to the message and stop crucifying the messenger.
It is high time that this divisiveness ends.
We have a country to build and can only do so by cooperating and embracing each other for good of country.
The youth need all of the encouragement that they can get as well as positive role models,
Always remember that there is strength in numbers.
Will someone please post the scores from yesterday’s game? It would be nice if DNO can post them dailly. That would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
DNO has no interest in cricket so don’t expect to get info here
DNO don’t even know if they are coming or going .
Congrats to our Dominica Senior Team for a remarkable victory over St Lucia…looking forward to more victories throughout the weekend
What did you understand by the speech? Or you are so filled with hatred for another human being that you would do anything to shut him up. De Caribbean really change with idiots like you. Who would you have invited? You hate Norris so much that even as the Parl. Rep. of Roseau you would deny the Rep. from welcoming the visitors, the cricketers to the city? You do not like the contents of the speech? Why? Is it because it didn’t say anything in support of what you seem to love CORRUPTION and those involved in CORRUPT PRACTICES? It is more than time to UNLEARN all the foolishness you are acquainted with. Let all ideas contend. You may Hate the person to the bone but if the speech is positive agree that it is. I could see through You. What game have you partake in? Gangsterism?
I will always recall uggs address as Tourism minister back when they were on stage and in charge.
Ugg was addressing a visiting crew and guess and said: ” Dominica is pure like a virgin please do not take away our virginity” I nearly died that evening. I feel sorry for this guy.he looks and sounds out of touch.
What did he say that you find so out of touch?
Roseauian i feel sorry for you. Please do not let your deeply entrenched hatred for the messenger cause you to lose focus on the message. This was a very good speech by Hon. Norris Prevost. He made an interesting point that cricket is more that bat and ball.West Indies cricketers have the natural ability but they need to recognise that cricket goes beyond the boundary. Cricketers must understand that cricket is a reflection of the Caribbean society. If one looks at the Caribbean community now it is a total reflection of the West Indies team. So Roseauian respect the message and forget how ugly the man maybe and take out your blinkers man.
What a timely, inspiring speech to the cricketers of the Windward Islands. In fact, those words would be equally encouraging to the present West Indies players. Well done Norris Prevost. I wonder if the present Minister of Sports, Justina Charles, could come close to delivering such a wonderful speech. How true it is. Caribbean cricket is certainly more than Bat and Ball.
Justina Charles’ focus is different from that of Mr Prevost,so whats your point?
You are reading mr Prevost’s speech it would be interesting for you to read mrs charles’ speech on this mediun.
Would I have invited Norris Prevost to talk at the opening of the Winward Islands 20/20 cricket tournament at the Windsor Park Stadium? Hell No! This man wanted to turn the Windsor Park into a free-for-all, destroying the beauty and elegance of the park and now has the audacity to welcome and address participants of the 20/20 tournament. T
Please explain what you are talking about, you seem to have info which the rest of us do not have.
True example of the politics of hate that we need to remove from our Dominica.
what is wrong with u dumb a$$$ dominican soooooo stupid it’s a shame