Frustrated by years of mounting transportation challenges across the Caribbean, Alfred Emmanuel says regional governments are failing athletes and sporting organizations by not making intra-Caribbean travel more affordable and accessible.
The president of the St Lucia Olympic Committee delivered the stinging assessment during Saturday’s edition of the TalkSports programme, where he openly criticized CARICOM for what he described as a lack of meaningful action on one of the region’s most persistent obstacles to sports development.
“Well, CARICOM … I’ve had my battles with CARICOM, and I would be foolish not to make public what I would have told the CARICOM persons in private,” Emmanuel said.
“CARICOM has failed us, and failed us miserably, when it comes to sport and sport development.”
Regional travel continues to burden Caribbean sport
Emmanuel’s comments reflect growing frustration among sporting bodies across the region, many of which continue to struggle with high airfare costs, limited flight connections, and logistical complications that affect competitions, athlete mobility, and training opportunities.
For smaller Caribbean nations especially, travel expenses often consume a significant portion of sports budgets, limiting participation in tournaments and regional events.
According to Emmanuel, the issue can no longer be viewed as simply a transportation problem. Instead, he believes it reflects a broader lack of political urgency toward sport throughout the Caribbean.
“I think it has to do with the mindset of politicians,” he said.
Former athletes in politics accused of silence
One of Emmanuel’s sharpest criticisms was directed toward former athletes who have transitioned into political leadership roles but, in his view, have failed to aggressively advocate for sports once entering government.
“At times you sit and wonder, wasn’t this guy a national athlete in this sport or that sport? Wasn’t this young lady an athlete in this sport or that sport?” Emmanuel questioned.
“Now that they’re in a position to really drive the process, they’re somewhat lost within the whole process.”
He argued that many former sports figures become noticeably quiet on sporting matters after assuming political office.
“You’re not hearing the voices. You’re not seeing the public pronouncements as to what they believe should be done,” he contended.
“To me, once you’ve entered the classroom of the politician, I think then sport is really not on the front burner.”
Call for stronger regional commitment
While Emmanuel did not outline a specific policy solution, his remarks underscored a growing call within Caribbean sports circles for stronger regional collaboration and political commitment to improving transportation infrastructure.
Many sporting officials have long argued that affordable and reliable regional travel is essential not only for athletic competition, but also for youth development, cultural exchange, and the long-term growth of Caribbean sport.
For Emmanuel, however, the issue has now reached a point where silence is no longer acceptable.
His comments served as both a public challenge to regional policymakers and a plea for Caribbean leaders to treat sport as a developmental priority rather than an afterthought.
