Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr the Honourable Keith Mitchell, has called for immediate, decisive action on climate change and warned that lives and livelihoods continue to be at stake.
Prime Minister Mitchell said the unifying nature of sports provides a platform to advocate for change, as has been done historically. Even as he noted the recent pledge by G7 countries to mobilise US$100 billion annually to assist poorer countries cut carbon emissions and cope with global warming, he argued that vulnerable countries should not depend solely on handouts.
“We ought not to wait on global consensus to act. Sir Frank Worrell did not wait on global consensus, on discrimination to mould his team to be the best outfit in the cricket business. He demonstrated sound leadership on the field of play and so too our countries need to show leadership in the field of climate change.”
The comments by Prime Minister Mitchell came during his delivery of the 21st Frank Worrell Memorial Lecture on the topic, Sport and Climate Change, hosted by The University of the West Indies Faculty of Sport on 28 June 2021. The virtual event was broadcast via UWItv.
Over 2 decades ago, The UWI established the memorial lecture in tribute to (the late) Sir Frank Worrell who joined The UWI staff as Warden of the Irvine Hall of the Mona Campus following his retirement from Test Cricket in 1963. He also served as Director of Sports at The UWI Mona and St Augustine Campuses, where he nurtured and mentored students and has been recognised as one of the pioneers of the development of cricket at the Mona Campus. As part of its outreach mandate, the Faculty of Sport has undertaken hosting the memorial lecture since 2020.
Prime Minister Mitchell, an ardent supporter of West Indies cricket, said the same battling spirit that has seen the regional side triumph against the odds should be applied to the climate crisis that also affects sporting infrastructure and the health of players. He called for climate adaptation measures to be incorporated into the design of new sporting venues and the refurbishment of existing structures. He cited the Lord’s Cricket Ground in England as an example of a facility being powered by 100% renewable energy.
“One would expect that sporting facilities in the Caribbean and beyond will be greener and built to the necessary climate resilience standards. Our region needs to take up the challenge to participate in the global fight against climate change from a holistic standpoint. It is not just about cricket. The region’s athletes and footballers continue to perform well on international stages bringing prominence to their respective countries.”
An area of seeming disappointment for the Grenadian leader was the failure of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and national cricketing bodies in the region to sign on to the United Nation’s Sports for Climate Action Initiative and he urged them to get on board. The initiative aims to support and guide sports actors in achieving global climate change goals, according to the United Nations.
Prime Minister Mitchell said Cricket West Indies should take the lead by signing on, and advocate within the ICC for international cricket to do the same. As he noted issues of insularity that continue to plague the region, he expressed hope that climate change would lead to a more unified approach.
At the level of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Prime Minister Mitchell pledged to make this one of his urgent priorities as chairman. He also recommended that a roundtable discussion be held to share information and create a joint regional plan of action on climate change, a study be conducted on climate change and sports that would highlight the issues and interventions needed as well as engagement strategies and the development of partnerships with media organisations to better sensitise citizens.
In her remarks at the Lecture, Principal of the Cave Hill Campus Professor The Most Honourable Eudine Barriteau stated that the economic cost and impact of climate change on sports in the Caribbean region has largely gone unmonitored and not treated to any rigorous academic analysis.
At the same time, she noted the absence of substantive climatologic data to guide such analyses.
Notwithstanding these issues, she agreed that the mass appeal of sports could be used as a platform and a unifying force to educate citizens globally about the dangers of climate change, and the need for humans to alter their destructive practices to protect the planet for future generations.
Also speaking at the event, Dean of the Faculty of Sport Dr Akshai Mansingh reflected on how the impact of ash fall from the recent eruption of the La Soufrière volcano in Saint Vincent was not confined to the island. He noted that this shows just how much countries in the region are interconnected, particularly where the climate is concerned. He added that cricket in the Windward Islands was among the many activities that were affected.
The UWI
An obvious challenge to Grenada already suffering Tourism Industry, are theGlobal Warming/Climate Change Policies that people like Keith Mitchell are pushing hard aims to Reduce Tourism and International Flights.
The UK already have a Carbon Tax added to passenger fares which under nutjobs in the EU and a Global Reset/Build Back Better… Bojo are set to increase even higher.
In true hypocracy they have exempted Private Jets and Cargo planes.
In fact while they grounded most commercial flights for ordinary people under the Covid scam, the same Elites have been busy flying here there and everywhere on Private Jets.
So exactly who’s interests is being served by Keith Mitchell with all this Global Warming BS.
When you think of the damage that have been done to Grenada iver the past 18 months by Tyrannical Political Edicts under CV19 scam and hysteria, …….personal freedom lost, businesses and schools shut down, jobs lost, increased poverty and mental stress…..
Yet the priority of Keith Mitchell is not fixing the mess he created but fixing Global Warming and Climate change.
Did the people of Grenada voted for a Globalist or for someone to fix the daily hardships in their lives in Grenada?
Either way Keith Mitchell incessant beating the drum for one Globalist Policy after another seems out of touch with the ordinary man and woman struggling to put bread on the table.
Individually Grenadians can start moving toward the development of agro businesses as well as other business areas. We need to stop depending on government to do it for us. You have the ideas, put it to work. Start small like most thriving businesses and we will be successful. Money in the bank is no use if not invested. GIDC is a good way to start. ASK for help.
With immediate affect…Now our little island can’t cope with normal pay demands but as soon as G7 says they have $100 billion for the cause we are ready.
Our island only have a population of approximately 100k which is a small drop in the ocean compared to any member of G7 countries.
What I am saying is that we don’t make anything as our main export is tourism so we are dependable on just about everything which means we are weak and venerable .