PRESIDENT of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), Keith Joseph, has issued a bold appeal to the Heads of Government of CARICOM, urging a fundamental shift in how sport is approached and prioritised across the region.

Speaking on behalf of CANOC, Joseph called for Caribbean leaders to move beyond the traditional cricket-first mentality and embrace the full breadth of sporting talent and potential that the region possesses.

Joseph acknowledged the historical importance of West Indies cricket, describing it as the first sporting institution from the Caribbean to compete on the international stage.
“We understand and remain appreciative of the efforts of the Heads of Government of the region in respect of the concerns they have had for the fortunes of West Indies Cricket,” he said. “The physical infrastructure in every Caribbean country has been provided, for the most part, by the respective governments and we are all very grateful for the support that the sport has received.”

He noted that for generations, cricket held the aspirations of Caribbean people, especially during the colonial era when success on the cricket field was seen as a means of achieving respect and affirming dignity on the world stage. However, Joseph stressed that the sporting landscape has since evolved, and Caribbean athletes have consistently demonstrated excellence in a wide range of disciplines, particularly track and field.

“Our peoples have come to display our remarkable talent in other sports, especially in track and field athletics with the sporting excellence of Jamaica’s Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley and the 4x400m relay gold medallists at the Summer Olympics of 1948 and 1952,” he said, adding that Caribbean footballers also continue to excel and attract international opportunities.
Despite this, Joseph expressed concern that CARICOM leadership has remained overly fixated on cricket, often to the detriment of other sports that have brought the region equal—if not greater—global recognition.

“It remains that in the face of our sporting successes, our CARICOM Heads have apparently got stuck at the level of cricket being seen and treated by them as the single most important sport that holds significance to the peoples of the Caribbean,” he said. “Not even the world record-breaking performances and sprinting dominance of the great Usain Bolt has allowed the region’s political leadership to turn their attention to the global impact of athletics.”

Joseph argued that in a rapidly changing world, sport must be recognised for its economic and social potential, especially in addressing some of the Caribbean’s most persistent challenges, such as youth unemployment, inequality, and crime.

“With sport being one of the fastest growing industries, we must commit our region, as a collective, to the location of sport tourism as a viable pillar of our respective economies,” he said. “The transformation of many of the region’s athletes into wealthy members of Caribbean society serves as an incredible incentive to successive generations of the region’s youths, eager to break the back of chronic unemployment, underemployment, gender inequality, youth despondency, vagrancy and incessantly spiralling crime and delinquency.”

While reaffirming the importance of preserving cricket’s rich legacy, Joseph called on regional governments to initiate a broad-based dialogue around sport as a tool for regional development and unity. He believes it is time to learn from past political efforts—like the failed West Indies Federation—and use sport as a foundation for renewed regional co-operation.

“CANOC therefore appeals to our CARICOM leaders to facilitate a broad-based regional discourse on sport as a major pillar of regional development through unity,” he urged. “We must right the wrongs of our failure to build on the positives of the concept of a West Indies Federation to create a new Caribbean that takes its rightful place amongst the international community, looking after the common interests of our people.”

Together or Nothing, Joseph concluded, encapsulating CANOC’s belief in sport as both a unifying force and an engine for Caribbean transformation. (Sportsmax)