Last Updated on January 30, 2021, 7:05 AM AST by Anthony Morris
St Kitts and Nevis: Given the stark reality of the COVID-19 pandemic globally and the need to take precautionary measures against the highly contagious and deadly coronavirus, especially concerning large sports events with massive crowds: The Covid-19 National Task Force met with the Executive of St Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, to inquire about upcoming major soccer tournaments.
Representing SKNFA were Stanley Jacobs, Secretary-General; Geoffrey Hazel, technical director; Dexter Tyrell, office manager; and Donald Freeman, president of United St. Paul’s Football Club. Anthony Johnson, president of SKNFA, led the delegation.
Johnson notified the Working Group of the upcoming CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers and the proposal to hold qualifying matches in the Federation in March and June with Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Guyana. The Working Group was also informed about the local President’s Cup, the Champions Cup, the main matches and the U-13 and U-15 Leagues, events that should end before August 15, 2021.
Besides, Freeman reported that United St. Paul’s Football Club is interested in having his team, which is the current champion, represent the Federation abroad, but is concerned about quarantine costs when the team returns to the Federation.
Medical Director Dr. Hazel Laws emphasized to the SKNFA executive the need to be careful when moving forward with the number of people gathered in a space at any given time. She also stresses the importance of strictly following all health and safety protocols, especially given the threat now posed by three new variants of the virus originating in the United Kingdom (UK), Brazil and South Africa. She noted that the UK variant was already present in at least three Caricom territories and that it was far more transmissible and deadly than previous strains of the virus. The dramatic increase in Covid-19 cases in neighboring islands was also a matter of concern for our Federation, added the CMO.
The Minister of Sports, the Honorable Jonel Powell, corroborated what the Medical Director said and added that the Department of Sports, in collaboration with the Cabinet, recommends that soccer tournaments be held without spectators. He said the Sports Department supports local leagues as long as everyone consistently adheres to health and safety protocols.
The Disaster Mitigation Council president, Vincent Byron, reminded the meeting that “we have a situation in our country that is not normal, and we hope that all our citizens and institutions understand it.” He stressed the need to restrict mass gatherings and proposed that international competitions be broadcast live in the absence of spectators.
Health and safety protocols regarding quarantine and testing were also discussed with the soccer executive, as well as the need to carefully assess the risks associated with the home team playing in matches both abroad and with teams.
At the close of the meeting, the Working Group recommended ongoing discussions with the SKNFA Executive to reach a decision that would result in the health and safety of all those involved and the country as a whole.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
