By Neto Baptiste
Former sports administrator and a former head of the ministry’s sports department, Patrick “Pat” Whyte, is being remembered as an individual who has helped to shape the way sports is administered throughout Antigua and Barbuda.
Whyte, who was 77, died on Tuesday afternoon. He spearheaded the formation and introduction of the National Sports Awards which, today, is used to honour and reward top national athletes on an annual basis.
National Hero and former West Indies captain Sir Vivian Richards said the country has suffered a huge loss, remembering the role Whyte played in his life at an early age.
“Hearing of the passing of Pat Whyte is a huge loss to us, so I just want to send my condolences to the Whyte family. Why there is something sentimental about the loss of Pat is the fact that Pat and Bran Jacobs were part of the committee that sent Andy and myself to Alf Gover. He [Pat Whyte], played a huge role on that particular committee with all the other folks like Bran Jacobs,” he said.
“We all know of all the other works he would have done in terms of the sporting fraternity in the country and the administrative role that he would have played, in my opinion, of leader in terms of the sporting departments; just everything involving sports, Pat would have played a huge part,” he added.
Whyte was also instrumental in getting the Antigua Recreation Grounds (ARG) ready ahead of the country’s hosting of its first Test in 1981.
Former fast bowler and the first Antiguan to play for the West Indies, Sir Andy Roberts, highlighted the fact that Whyte would have made many sacrifices for sports in the country and should have been recognised for his efforts.
“Antigua has lost a great man and many of us out there don’t know the problems that Pat Whyte had gone through to get Antigua, Antigua cricket, Antigua football up and running. We have lost a great man and I hope he gets the commendations he should get. He should have gotten it while he was alive but so be it,” he said.
Also paying tribute to Whyte was President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA), Leon Rodney, who remembers the meticulous manner in which is managed the ARG.
“My takeaway with Pat Whyte is how amazing it was during the time when football and cricket used to share the Antigua Recreation Grounds. At that time, cricket would start in January and go until about December. Mr Ralph Potter would have been the president and Chet Greene was the general secretary of the association and there were times when they would have gone to Pat Whyte and say, ‘we need another two weeks’ and Pat Whyte would say, ‘your time is finished and we are preparing the grounds for cricket’. That would be a toss-up but the way in which he ran it was like clockwork,” he said.
Whyte also served as a cricket umpire and commentator for a period spanning the 70s, 80s, and 90s.