By Neto Baptiste
Former national and Leeward Islands batsman Earl Waldron believes that successive governments have failed sports and its development here in Antigua.
Speaking on the Good Morning Jojo Sports Show, Waldron criticised governments for the lack of interest shown in developing facilities across the country, stating that all venues should at least be equipped with the basic necessities.
“I believe that all politicians around Antigua have failed sports and it is not about politics, I am just being honest. There should be no facility in Antigua that is owned by the government [where] sports is played on, that there is not a changing room. That is the government’s responsibility and I am saying that out loud. I should not have to go to any representative to figure out that they need to have changing facilities on the changing venues,” he said.
Waldron, who is a player-coach with the Bolans Blasters cricket team, said the community continues to suffer from a lack of adequate facilities when hosting either cricket or football matches. The veteran player added that there are plans afoot to rectify the problem.
“The only problem we have presently — like you said, facilities — is getting an area where players can be comfortable, and bathrooms. We have been trying to work on that in terms of myself and the manager but in terms of the playing field and the pitch, they are in perfect condition, but we don’t have the seating accommodation at the moment for the teams and that’s what we’re working on,” he said.
Bolans Blasters continue to struggle in the ongoing Super 40 competition and are still winless after eight rounds of matches.