MEDIA BLAST - Mike's Blog

Grenada and its diaspora after the election

2026-11-11T10:39:27.480-05:00

by Michael Bascombe

Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell’s invitation to Grenadians abroad to help build the country should now lead to a permanent national programme. With a fresh mandate and 14 of Parliament’s 15 seats, his government has an opportunity to institutionalise the Diaspora initiative and give it a defined place in Grenada’s development.

At his inauguration at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium on Saturday, Mitchell acknowledged the Diaspora’s growing advocacy for good governance and progressive politics since 2022. He thanked overseas nationals for supporting the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and participating in the election, while recognising their value beyond the electoral process. “We need you to also help us build Grenada,” he said.

During the lead-up to the election, the NDC, the New National Party (NNP), and the Democratic People’s Movement (DPM) all took their messages to Grenadians abroad. They held town hall meetings and sought support from communities that also contribute financially to political parties. Some registered voters living overseas travelled home to cast their ballots. That level of engagement should continue throughout the government’s term.

Successive administrations have recognised the importance of the diaspora. The Founding Conference in 2011 helped give that relationship a national focus. Grenada later developed a National Diaspora Engagement Policy and launched an Office of Diaspora Affairs in 2021. This year’s Diaspora Homecoming, held from June 21 to July 5, brought another opportunity to connect overseas nationals with home.

The Office of Diaspora Affairs needs a clear remit, professional staff, and a recurring budget. Its responsibilities should connect with the work of other ministries, embassies, and consulates, so that overseas engagement continues throughout the year. People offering assistance should be able to rely on a functioning public service with clear procedures and someone accountable for responding.

The government should adopt a multi-year action plan tied to national priorities, with specific projects, responsible agencies, and realistic funding. Annual reports to Parliament would allow the public to see what has been completed, what has stalled, and why. That would also give future administrations a record of commitments to carry forward and a basis for improving the programme.

The diaspora already supports families, schools, and healthcare, bringing investment and visitor spending. Its wider professional networks can help public services and local businesses.

Those connections matter, as trade disputes and international conflicts can affect costs and investment decisions. Grenada’s reliance on imports and tourism exposes it to events far beyond its shores, alongside the ongoing threat of natural disasters. Overseas expertise could help the country prepare stronger climate funding proposals, develop new markets, and ensure its needs are understood in international decision-making.

Grenadian coaches, sports medicine practitioners, sports psychologists, and administrators abroad could work alongside local sporting bodies and schools. They could help train coaches, support athletes’ physical and mental preparation, and improve how sporting organisations are run. Regular collaboration would help develop expertise at home.

Our elite athletes in athletics, basketball, cricket, and football could also introduce Grenada’s sporting bodies to their clubs, coaches, and specialist networks. Those contacts could lead to training exchanges, scholarship opportunities, and technical support, with local organisations responsible for following up and maintaining the partnerships.

Updating the existing mapping of overseas skills would give the programme a practical starting point. Hospitals, schools, businesses, and community groups could identify needs, then work with willing professionals abroad. Some could undertake short assignments at home. Others could mentor or advise online.

That outreach must extend across New York, Toronto, Florida, and the United Kingdom to include Atlanta, Houston, and communities throughout the Caribbean. Alumni associations and established community groups can help reach people whose experience may otherwise go untapped.

Grenadians abroad also deserve reliable consular services, clear information about investing or returning home, and timely replies when they offer assistance. Study visits and internships would give younger generations a chance to develop their own relationship with Grenada.

Within the first year, Grenadians should be able to find out how to join this work, who is responsible for it and which partnerships are delivering results. A public progress report would give us something concrete to judge and help identify where further support is needed.

Springer: Caribbean sports bodies still operating ‘amateurishly’

2026-10-31T17:16:20.219-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Oct. 31, 2026 - Many Caribbean sporting bodies have failed to keep pace with professional sport and still place administrative control ahead of athletes, veteran sports journalist, broadcaster, and administrator Vernon Springer has said.

Speaking on Saturday’s TalkSports programme, Springer argued that global sport has become a billion-dollar business, while some regional associations still operate without professional systems or an athlete-centred approach.

“Although the sport has evolved into being a billion-dollar industry, they’re still operating amateurishly,” he said. “Some of the associations think that they’re bigger than the athletes.”

Springer cited the treatment of former world 100m champion Kim Collins at the London 2012 Olympics as a case that still raises questions about transparency and due process. Collins was entered in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay but did not compete.

At the time, the St Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee said Collins had breached his participation agreement by missing meetings and training sessions and failing to keep officials informed of his whereabouts. The committee said it withdrew his Olympic Village accreditation after he did not return when instructed.

Collins offered a different account, saying he had stayed with his wife and found himself locked out of the village. He later said he remained unclear about why he had been excluded.

Springer maintained that Collins was never taken before a disciplinary committee and that the episode showed how poorly some organisations managed professional athletes.

“Nobody can tell the world why Kim Collins did not run in the London Olympics,” he said.

Collins won Commonwealth 100m gold in 2002 and the world title in 2003. Springer said his Adidas contract and access to a doctor, masseur, and agent gave him a professional structure that his national association did not possess.

“Kim was almost like a walking businessman, outside of being an ambassador,” Springer said.

He argued that some administrators struggled to accept agents and other specialists acting on behalf of athletes, even as Caribbean competitors became successful on the global circuit.

“While we have done well across the region in sports, most of our administrators have not been able to come up to the mark in terms of what professional sport would mean in the Caribbean,” Springer said.

Sir Kirani reaffirms nonpartisan role ahead of Grenada election

2026-10-26T15:21:04.467-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Oct. 26, 2026 - Grenada’s Olympic champion Sir Kirani James has addressed political speculation surrounding a social-media photograph, reaffirming his duty to represent the country without partisanship.

Grenada’s Olympic champion issued the clarification on his Facebook page after the image appeared to raise questions about whether he had endorsed a party or political figures ahead of the country’s general election.

“This photo does not confirm nor deny my support for a political party, just as this statement does not confirm nor deny that either,” Sir Kirani said.

He did not identify a party or politician in the statement, explain the circumstances surrounding the photograph or disclose his voting preference.

Sir Kirani acknowledged that his standing as an internationally recognised athlete gives his actions considerable public influence.

“I do understand the unique position I am in and the influence that it can carry,” he said.

He drew a distinction between any private political views he may hold and his responsibility as a national representative.

“My duty as an international representative has always been to represent all of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique in a nonpartisan way,” Sir Kirani said.

“The passion and pride to do so is not determined by who is in political office, but by the support and love of the Grenadian people.”

James became Grenada’s first Olympic medallist when he won the men’s 400 metres at the 2012 London Games. He added silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at the Tokyo Olympics and was recently installed as the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees’ first Sports Ambassador.

His statement comes as Grenada prepares for a general election on Thursday, November 5.

Sir Kirani used the attention surrounding the photograph to encourage eligible citizens to participate in the election and carefully consider their choices.

“To be able to vote in free and fair elections is an extreme privilege,” he said. “Treat it with the reverence and seriousness that it deserves, and understand that it is a civic duty for those of us who are in a position to vote.”

He urged voters to make decisions based on “a blend of your individual and collective morals and ideals.”

“The power is and always will belong with you, the people,” Sir Kirani said.

Sir Kirani James’ CANOC ambassador role to extend beyond ceremony

2026-10-26T08:57:25.085-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Oct. 26, 2026 - Sir Kirani James will mentor athletes, address national Olympic committees and promote sporting and academic achievement across the Caribbean in an active role as the region’s first CANOC Sports Ambassador.

Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) President Keith Joseph says Sir Kirani James’ appointment as the organisation’s first Sports Ambassador was designed to give young Caribbean athletes a regional role model, not to create another ceremonial position.

The CANOC President rejected any suggestion that the position would be largely ceremonial.

“No, no, no,” Joseph said on Saturday’s TalkSports programme with Michael Bascombe when asked

about the scope of the appointment.

“Part of our engagement of the ambassador is to facilitate his being able to go to different fora, to speak with athletes, to be an example to athletes of what they can be.”

Sir Kirani was officially installed as CANOC’s inaugural Sports Ambassador during the organisation’s workshop in Curaçao on October 17.

Joseph said Sir Kirani could also attend assemblies of national Olympic committees, encourage young people to participate in sport, and challenge the perception that athletic involvement conflicts with academic achievement.

CANOC has also given the Grenadian the latitude to identify events and discussions at which he believes he can make a useful contribution.

Joseph said the position was established because prominent athletes can influence how children view themselves and their possibilities.

“We need people that our young people can look up to,” he said.

Joseph said Sir Kirani’s address in Curaçao reinforced CANOC’s decision. He noted that the former Olympic and world 400-metre champion repeatedly reflected on his upbringing and the people who supported his development.

“It appears as though throughout his career, he maintained a link with his roots,” Joseph said. “He was always aware that whatever he was achieving was intended not just for him, but for those who gave rise to what he would become.”

James became Grenada’s first Olympic medallist when he won the 400m at the 2012 London Games. He later secured silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, adding to the world title he won in Daegu in 2011.

Joseph argued that Caribbean sporting organisations had not done enough to preserve and promote the stories of regional athletes or explain the wider contribution sport has made to Caribbean identity.

“Kirani can do that for us,” he said.

Joseph described James as the strongest available choice because of his accomplishments, humility, and understanding of his wider regional influence. He said no objection was raised when the appointment was proposed.

CANOC could eventually appoint additional ambassadors. Joseph disclosed that the organisation had attempted to appoint a female athlete alongside James but had not completed the arrangement.

“We will also remember the importance of gender equity in this exercise,” he said.

Joseph did not announce a timetable or the first set of regional assignments for Sir Kirani.

CANOC chief questions Caribbean influence in world sport

2026-10-25T12:05:24.966-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

KINGSTOWN, Oct. 25, 2026 - Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) President Keith Joseph has criticised Caribbean sports organisations for failing to convert representation within international federations into meaningful regional influence.

Asked on Saturday’s TalkSports programme with Michael Bascombe whether regional organisations were adapting quickly enough to the increasingly complex demands of international sport, Joseph replied: “No, not by a long shot.”

“We are afraid to talk because perhaps we are afraid to analyse,” he said. “We get the analysis more from our sports journalists, who are criticised for being analytical, than they deserve.”

Joseph argued that some national federations judged their international relationships mainly by the funding, equipment, or other assistance they secured rather than by their contribution to policy and decision-making.

He said Caribbean delegates attending international meetings should study agendas in advance, assess the implications for their countries, and develop shared regional responses.

“What are our Caribbean members of FIFA doing?” Joseph asked. “Are they just waiting for CONCACAF to take a lead for them, or are they themselves individually studying what this means for all of us?”

He said the region should be prepared to present collective proposals reflecting Caribbean needs instead of responding after decisions had already been shaped by larger and more influential blocs.

Joseph also questioned the Caribbean’s influence within the Olympic system. Although National Olympic Committees form a central part of the Olympic Movement, voting at IOC Sessions is conducted by individual IOC members rather than by each recognised national committee.

He said securing a Caribbean representative on an international executive should be treated as the beginning of the work, rather than the final achievement.

“Having one representative on the executive is not an impact,” Joseph said. “It may be that we gain recognition finally, but what do we do with that recognition?”

He called for regional representatives to report more consistently to Caribbean administrators, explain developments at international meetings, and seek guidance before positions are taken.

Joseph said CANOC’s growing engagement with African and Asian Olympic bodies was intended to build cooperation around shared history, expertise, and development needs.

Presidents of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and the Olympic Council of Asia attended CANOC’s recent General Assembly in Curaçao. The organisations have identified coach exchanges, joint training, and shared technical experience as possible areas of cooperation.

Joseph said the Caribbean’s African, Indian, and Chinese heritage should provide a basis for stronger sporting and institutional ties.

“We may be able to understand that we have more in common than differentiates us,” he said.

Joseph was re-elected on October 18 to lead CANOC for the 2026–2030 term. He did not identify individual Caribbean federations or Olympic committees in his criticism.

“We’re not doing enough of that by any stretch of the imagination,” he said.

CANOC, UWI pursue Grenada campus for sport and agriculture

2026-10-25T10:57:32.606-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Oct. 25, 2026 - The Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) and the University of the West Indies (UWI) are in discussions with the Government of Grenada about a specialised campus that combines agriculture, sports education, and regional high-performance training.

CANOC President Keith Joseph disclosed on Saturday’s TalkSports programme with Michael Bascombe, that the proposal includes academic work in agriculture, with particular attention to cocoa, alongside the education and preparation of high-performance athletes.

The plan also envisages primary and secondary education programmes focused on sport and long-term athlete development.

Joseph said discussions began last year and included meetings with the Grenada Cabinet. He expects the process to continue after the November 5 general election.

“We believe that within the Eastern Caribbean, we have enough expertise, we have enough resources to facilitate the development of a high-performance centre that not only serves the Eastern Caribbean but can extend to servicing the Caribbean,” Joseph said.

The initiative has previously been identified as the Hope Estate Project. CANOC and UWI signed a cooperation agreement in 2023 covering sports education, research, athlete engagement, and the proposed development of a multi-sport high-performance centre in Grenada.

Joseph said Grenada’s sporting history and public support across several disciplines made the country a strong candidate for a regional facility.

While Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago are more frequently identified with sustained international sporting success, Joseph argued that Grenada had consistently embraced athletes and teams across a broader range of sports.

He cited Sir Kirani James’ recent installation as CANOC’s first Sports Ambassador as an example of the island’s influence beyond its population size.

Joseph said James reflected during the ceremony on his progression from primary and secondary school competitions to the CARIFTA Games, World Championships, and Olympic Games. According to Joseph, the three-time Olympic medallist also spoke about carrying the expectations of Grenada and the wider Caribbean whenever he competed internationally.

The proposed centre, Joseph said, should form part of a broader shift in how Caribbean governments view sport.

“We’re trying to impress upon our respective governments that sport must not be considered an adjunct that you put at the end of a rather long ministerial portfolio,” he said.

Instead, Joseph argued, sport should be treated as “one of the major pillars of economic development and genuine development” across the region.

Joseph was re-elected CANOC president for the 2026–2030 term at the organisation’s 24th General Assembly in Curaçao on October 18.

CANOC chief warns Caribbean sport risks being left behind

2026-10-25T08:29:11.601-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

KINGSTOWN, Oct. 25, 2026 - Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees President Keith Joseph has called for a regional reassessment of the Olympic system, warning that Caribbean sport could be left behind as international governing bodies change their operating models.

Joseph, speaking on Saturday’s TalkSports programme with Michael Bascombe, questioned whether the region’s national federations and Olympic committees were adequately preparing for changes in international sport.

“Personally, I believe that the Olympic model needs change,” Joseph said. “I think it has exhausted its usefulness.”

He said Caribbean Olympic committees should be developing research-based proposals to present to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), where he believes the region is underrepresented.

“What are our Olympic committees doing in order to bring to the table of the International Olympic Committee, where we are already underrepresented, to change the model that we are using?” Joseph asked.

The CANOC president cited FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s public approach to proposed changes in football as an indication of the broader discussions taking place within international federations.

Joseph said Caribbean administrators must continuously examine the region’s role within that changing environment instead of waiting for reforms to be determined by more influential sporting blocs.

“If we don’t do it now as a Caribbean grouping, we will get left behind in much the same way that our governments have gotten left behind in terms of international development strategies and their application to the benefit of our peoples,” he said.

Joseph’s comments came days after he was re-elected to lead CANOC for the 2026–2030 term at the organisation’s 24th General Assembly in Curaçao.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines administrator heads a seven-member executive committee whose stated priorities include regional cooperation, governance, and expanded opportunities for Caribbean athletes and sporting organisations.

BRTA proposes Caribbean coaching drive as federation plan advances

2026-10-17T17:46:34.306-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, October 17, 2026 - The Barbados Road Tennis Association (BRTA) has proposed a regional “coach the coaches” programme as the first step towards establishing the island’s indigenous game across the Caribbean.

BRTA President Frederick Blunt told Saturday’s TalkSports programme that training local coaches would provide a more sustainable foundation than relying on occasional demonstrations by visiting Barbadian players.

“You just don’t go and do an exhibition, and then after we leave, road tennis stops,” Blunt said.

He proposed bringing small groups of coaches from territories including Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and St Lucia to Barbados for approximately two weeks of instruction. They would then return home to introduce the sport in primary and secondary schools and community programmes.

“The first thing is to get our coaches to coach the coaches in the Caribbean islands,” he said. “Once we have that format, then it will grow in those islands as well.”

Blunt said Barbados’ Ministry of Sport was developing a formal coaching-certification programme open to candidates from the Caribbean and farther afield. He gave no date for its introduction.

The initiative would complement the government-led effort to establish an International Road Tennis Federation. Sports Minister Charles Griffith announced in August that the proposed body would be based in Barbados and was targeted for launch before the end of 2026.

Blunt said the BRTA’s immediate responsibility remained domestic development, while the ministry handled the international structure.

“Once the plans for the International Road Tennis Federation are rolled out, that is the genesis to get road tennis into the wider world,” he said.

Blunt identified the CARIFTA level as a possible long-term regional target but said the sport must first become competitive in other territories.

“It wouldn’t make any sense if we had it in CARIFTA where only Barbados is dominating,” he said. “We still want equity and fairness.”

He said the BRTA was prepared to assist interested countries with coaching, equipment information, and guidance on the rules.

BRTA seeks permanent home, school role for road tennis

2026-10-17T17:40:53.411-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, October 17, 2026 - The Barbados Road Tennis Association (BRTA) is working with the Ministry of Sport to secure a permanent home for the indigenous game while seeking its inclusion in the national school curriculum, President Frederick Blunt said on Saturday.

Speaking on the TalkSports programme, with host Michael Bascombe, Blunt said Barbados had expanded access to road tennis through community facilities but still lacked a dedicated centre for coaching, regular training, and elite-player development.

“The main thing is for us to actually have our own home, because that is what is lacking,” Blunt said.

He estimated that more than 300 road-tennis courts had been marked across Barbados. Many, however, are on multi-purpose hard courts shared with other sports.

The semi-finals and finals of the Barbados Road Tennis Open are staged at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, but Blunt said a permanent base would allow players to practise consistently and work with coaches.

“What we are looking at, working with the Ministry of Sport, is actually having a home for road tennis where people could go and practise in the evenings,” he said.

Blunt did not identify a proposed site, budget, or construction timetable.

The BRTA’s junior programme, now in its sixth year, caters to players from age seven to 21. The National Sports Council also stages a primary-schools competition, while Blunt said discussions were under way with the ministry about introducing a secondary-schools tournament.

“I’d like to see road tennis being taught in the schools, in the curriculum,” he said. “I’d like to see a road tennis court in every single school in Barbados, from primary to secondary.”

Blunt said three clubs had been registered and another three were completing the process, marking a shift from the informal community “camps” traditionally associated with the sport.

He also said female participation remained below the level the BRTA wanted and identified more school programmes and women-only competitions among the proposed responses.

John says historic Masters gold capped ‘long journey’

2026-10-10T15:45:39.651-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2026 - Nigel “Bunto” John has described Grenada’s first World Masters Athletics Championships gold medal as the emotional reward for years of work, dedication, and resilience.

John won the men’s M50 long jump in Daegu, South Korea, on August 25 with 6.64 metres, breaking the previous championship record of 6.59m.

“I kind of get emotional about that because it’s been a long journey,” John said on Saturday’s TalkSports programme.

“I put in a lot of work, dedication, and resilience into whatever I was doing to reach that point. It was surreal, and I was thinking not only about myself but about Grenada as a whole.”

John edged France’s Bakri Daroueche, who took silver with 6.63m. Former Jamaican Olympian James Beckford secured bronze with 6.33m.

John said he entered the competition believing a record was possible, although the long jump has been secondary to his preferred event, the 400 metres.

“I’m predominantly a 400 runner,” he said. “I eat, sleep, and wake up every morning thinking about the 400. Since I was small, the 400 was my thing.”

He said he added the long jump to his programme to contest a field event in club competitions, choosing it ahead of the high jump while maintaining his focus on running.

John and Curtis Brereton represented Grenada at the championships, which were held from August 22 to September 3.

John also acknowledged the Government of Grenada for helping the two athletes attend the championships.

“I was able to write letters and get some assistance from the Grenadian government,” he said. “They have been wonderful in assisting me in attending those championships.”

John specifically thanked Permanent Secretary Kim Frederick and the Ministry of Youth and Sport for their support.

Guyana targets regional sports-hub status with new training centre

2026-09-19T17:40:56.625-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Sept. 19, 2026 - Guyana is finalising plans for a multi-sport high-performance centre at Good Hope before taking the project to tender, as the government seeks to establish the country as a regional training hub.

Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs, said the proposed complex would include three playing fields, an indoor training facility, a performance laboratory, a strength-and-conditioning gym, and accommodation for athletes.

“We’re still going through the design as we speak,” Jacobs said on Saturday’s TalkSports programme. “The consultant is to reach us next week so that we can finalise and then move out to tender to get this up and running.”

Jacobs said work was already taking place on the fields at the proposed site, but the wider complex remained at the design stage.

The plans also include nutrition and recovery areas, an auditorium for classes, and athlete testing services intended to support sports science and biomechanics assessments.

“We want Guyana to be positioned as a sporting destination, as a sporting hub, where we can provide a space and opportunity for sportsmen and women around the entire region and also internationally to come to this country and get the necessary training,” Jacobs said.

He said athletes using the centre would be assessed and provided with individual training and development plans.

“You’ll have something that is complete that will make sure that when people go there, they can actually leave with a programme and plan,” he said.

According to Jacobs, the government examined high-performance facilities in other countries while developing the concept, with particular attention given to centres that combine training, testing, recovery, nutrition, and accommodation in one location.

The proposed centre will form part of a wider sports academy and three-field complex at Good Hope.

Jacobs also disclosed that approximately 25 athletes had been selected for an existing elite programme aimed at preparing competitors considered capable of reaching the Olympic level.

“We have an elite programme for a selected group of athletes that we think have the necessary potential to go to the Olympics - about 25 people,” he said.

Hotel, tourism packages planned for 2027 CARIFTA Games

2026-09-19T16:41:05.238-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Sept. 19, 2026 - Guyana is preparing hotel capacity and tourism packages for a potential influx of thousands of people, including athletes, scouts, and spectators, during the 2027 CARIFTA Games, Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Steven Jacobs said Saturday.

Speaking on the TalkSports programme, Jacobs said a local organising committee and secretariat were already working on arrangements for the March 27–29 regional junior track and field championships.

He said the Guyana Police Force, Ministry of Tourism, and other government agencies were involved in planning for security, accommodation, and the movement of visitors.

“For the CARIFTA Games, we have the potential of bringing a thousand-plus persons here, including athletes and persons coming in to watch the Games, scouts, and so forth,” Jacobs said.

“We’re already starting to work on hotel rooms because these are things that we need. It’s an Easter weekend, and we understand what may happen.”

Jacobs said visitor packages would be developed in consultation with the Ministry of Tourism, allowing those travelling for the Games to experience other parts of Guyana during their stay.

Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle and Athletics Association of Guyana president Sheryl Hermonstine are involved in the preparations, he added.

North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) president Mike Sands and technology commission chairman John-Paul Clarke inspected the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora in August.

“Recommendations were made. The layout of the facility was already completed,” Jacobs said. “We’re working to make sure that it’s a smooth process, and that CARIFTA Games 2027 could be something to be remembered.”

The Leonora facility will be the principal venue for the Games, which Guyana will host for the first time.

Guyana launches free GOAL study pathway for athletes

2026-09-19T14:48:38.224-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Sept. 19, 2026 - Guyana has launched free sports-study programmes designed to allow athletes to continue their education while competing, Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Steven Jacobs said Saturday.

Speaking on the TalkSports programme, Jacobs said the initiative was introduced through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning, commonly known as GOAL.

“We’ve just launched sports programmes through the GOAL programme,” Jacobs said. “That now equips or gives people an opportunity to take up their education while playing sport, free of cost.”

Jacobs said the programme forms part of an effort to place education alongside athletic development and better prepare competitors for life during and after their sporting careers.

He also referred to a recent sports seminar involving an Australian university, although he did not identify the institution during the interview.

The ministry has also introduced Beyond the Game, a series highlighting athletes who have combined academic achievement with success in sport.

Jacobs cited Chelsea Edghill, Jonathan van Lange, Matthew Nandu, and Shemar Britton as examples.

“All of these people were successful at school and still excelled in sport,” he said.

Jacobs said those examples could help younger athletes understand that education and high-level competition do not have to be treated as separate pursuits.

“We’re really trying to look at how to shape our athletes so that we have a more finished product,” he said.

Beyond Kirani: Where is Grenada’s next generation of professionals?

2026-09-12T18:53:54.594-04:00

Sports Commentary by Michael Bascombe

Sir Kirani James is not competing at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest this weekend, but any serious discussion about the present and future of Grenadian athletics still has to include him.

James turned 34 on September 1 and remains competitive internationally. He ran a season-best 44.83 seconds for third in Zurich, clocked 44.92 in Brescia, and returned to the podium in Rovereto on Tuesday with 45.11.

That level of consistency, more than 15 years after he emerged internationally, deserves recognition. But it also raises an unavoidable question: who will eventually fill the void when Kirani leaves the international circuit?

Grenada is not without athletes competing beyond the domestic level. World Athletics lists Gamali Felix and Michael Francois, both 400-metre athletes, and 200-metre runner Troy Mason among Grenada’s ranked athletes under its Athletes’ Representatives framework.

However, Grenada’s most established presence at the highest level remains concentrated around James in the 400 metres, Anderson Peters in the javelin, and Lindon Victor in the decathlon. Victor reinforced his international standing this year by winning the Commonwealth title in Glasgow with 8,096 points. Sprinter Nazzio John has also indicated his intention to turn professional for the 2027 season.

So perhaps the question is not simply, “Where are Grenada’s professional athletes?”

A better question is: Where is the next group capable of consistently reaching major championships and competing at the top level of the international circuit?

Grenada has produced successful juniors and athletes who have secured overseas scholarships. The difficulty appears to be sustaining that progression into the senior ranks.

What happens between 18 and 23? How closely are athletes monitored once they leave Grenada? Is the NCAA and college route producing the expected outcomes? What happens when scholarships end? Is there sufficient support for athletes who have completed college but are not yet earning enough from the sport to continue full-time?

The situation involving female athletes deserves particular attention.

Grenada Athletics Association (GAA) President Johnell Mitchell raised the issue on TalkSports last weekend.

“We need to do something about our female athletes and the direction of our female athletes,” he said.

Mitchell referred to Suerena Alexander and Jamara Patterson and also identified triple jumper Christanna Charles as an athlete with significant potential. His wider concern was that too few promising female juniors are progressing successfully into the senior ranks.

Before solutions can be prescribed, however, the GAA needs evidence.

What happened to Grenada’s leading female athletes after CARIFTA and InterCol? How many were still competing three or five years later? If they left the sport, why?

Was it coaching, scholarships, finance, education, family responsibilities, limited competition, or the absence of a realistic professional pathway?

Grenada athletics has produced world-class athletes. The more difficult challenge is building a system that makes world-class development less dependent on exceptional individuals.

Grenada missed its moment on Eastern Parkway

2026-09-09T10:55:42.084-04:00

Commentary by Michael Bascombe

On Eastern Parkway on Monday, Caribbean culture was not only on parade but also being marketed.

The 59th New York Carnival Parade, organised by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, drew a large street audience, while several New York television stations carried live or digital coverage. ABC7, for example, streamed its broadcast on its website, Disney+, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook, bringing the celebrations to viewers far beyond Brooklyn. WIADCA describes the event as North America’s largest Caribbean carnival, while ABC7 called it the largest Caribbean cultural festival in the United States.

Several Caribbean destinations recognised the marketing value of that exposure.

Across the broadcasts monitored, representatives promoting Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, Haiti, the United States Virgin Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago used their appearances to sell their culture, carnivals, and tourism products. Antigua and Barbuda looked beyond this year, promoting the 70th anniversary of its Carnival in 2027. Its government has already published the festival dates of July 20 to August 3.

PIX11 also included Trinidad-born Michael Manswell as an honorary co-host. Manswell is an award-winning dancer, singer, and choreographer who serves as artistic director of Something Positive Inc. His presence showed how cultural practitioners can help a destination’s traditions secure meaningful space within mainstream broadcasting.

What was not similarly visible was a coordinated Grenadian promotion involving the Spicemas Corporation (SMC) or the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA).

That does not mean either agency undertook any activity in New York. The GTA has previously conducted meetings and promotions involving New York media, travel advisers, and airline representatives. However, there was no comparable Grenadian pitch evident during the parade broadcasts. If there was an activation away from the cameras, it did not reach the large television and online audience following the parade.

That was a missed opportunity.

The United States remains Grenada’s largest tourism source market, and the GTA itself identifies New York as one of the destination’s key markets. The GTA is responsible for destination marketing, while the SMC’s stated mandate includes promoting and organising Spicemas. Their responsibilities naturally meet when Grenada’s premier cultural festival is being sold overseas.

A proactive Grenadian presence could have included a prepared spokesperson, masqueraders in costume, cultural performers, and a concise television pitch explaining why viewers should choose Spicemas in 2027. Festival dates, travel packages, and a dedicated booking or information link could have been promoted while the audience was already thinking about Caribbean carnivals.

Antigua and Barbuda was selling next year’s festival. Grenada should have been doing the same.

Grenada also has a powerful but underused partner in New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. He is a first-generation Brooklynite of Grenadian heritage, and the Grenada flag regularly accompanies him at major cultural events. His own office used a photograph of him waving the flag in its 2026 parade advisory.

In terms of sustained public visibility, Williams may be Grenada’s most consistent informal marketer in New York. Greater engagement with him should not mean politicising tourism or presuming his endorsement. It could involve seeking his advice, strengthening links with community organisations, and using his office’s reach to identify legitimate cultural and diaspora opportunities.

The wider lesson extends beyond Eastern Parkway. SMC and GTA should develop an annual overseas-events calendar covering Miami Carnival, Caribbean Premier League matches, and selected NBA, NFL, and LPGA events in markets with strong Caribbean communities or useful travel connections. Grenada does not need an expensive presence everywhere. It needs carefully selected activations with measurable objectives, bookable offers, and proper follow-up.

Spicemas also has a strong reputation as a comparatively safe and welcoming summer festival. If SMC and GTA intend to market it as the Caribbean’s safest, that claim should be supported by police, emergency-response, and event data, and then used confidently as part of the festival’s international appeal.

Grenada does not lack a product to sell. It has culture, music, traditional mas, Jab Jab, direct access to a major American market, and a sizeable diaspora willing to help.

What was missing on Monday was the organised pitch.

Eastern Parkway presents this opportunity every year. When the Caribbean has New York’s attention, Grenada cannot afford to remain quiet.

James returns to podium with third-place finish in Rovereto

2026-09-08T17:24:43.115-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

ROVERETO, Italy, Sep. 8, 2026 - Sir Kirani James returned to the podium on Tuesday, finishing third in the men’s 400 metres at the Palio Città della Quercia in Rovereto.

The Grenadian finished in 45.11 seconds at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting.

Canada’s Christopher Morales Williams won in 44.64, while Belgium’s Daniel Segers took second in 45.04.

James, running from lane four, finished seven-hundredths of a second behind Segers and 0.47 behind Morales Williams.

American Demarius Smith was fourth in 45.28, followed by South Africa’s Leendert Koekemoer in 45.30. Eugene Omalla of the Netherlands placed sixth in 45.94, while Italy’s Lorenzo Benati was seventh in 46.01.

Tuesday’s performance gave James his second podium finish in his three most recent European appearances.

The 2012 Olympic and 2011 world champion ran a season's best of 44.83 to place third at the Zurich Diamond League on August 27.

Three days later, he recorded another sub-45-second performance at the Grand Prix Brescia, clocking 44.92 for seventh in a tightly contested race won by Koekemoer in 44.52.

James’ latest appearance continued a busy closing period to his European season. His times across the three races were separated by less than three-tenths of a second.

The Rovereto meeting, staged at the Stadio della Quercia, was the 62nd edition of the Palio Città della Quercia.

GAA working towards national relay teams, Mitchell says

2026-09-05T20:22:16.158-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Sep. 5, 2026 - The Grenada Athletics Association is working towards fielding national teams in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, President Johnell Mitchell said Saturday, although he gave no timetable for the initiative.

Mitchell was speaking on the TalkSports programme in his first major interview following his election as GAA president.

He said discussions and other preparatory work were taking place but were not yet ready to be made public.

“We have quite a few of our athletes who are running good times — 46s, 45s,” Mitchell said. “We have to be able to get them together, and it is a direction that we are moving in.”

He said the GAA’s objective extended beyond forming a single 4x400m team.

“In time to come, I’m going to say to you and to the general public, we will have a relay team out there — not a relay team, but we’re going to have 4x100s and 4x400s,” he said.

Mitchell also identified the development and retention of female athletes as an area requiring closer attention.

“We need to do something about our female athletes and the direction of our female athletes,” he said. “That’s one of the areas we’ve kind of dropped off in recent times.”

The GAA president referred to Suerena Alexander and Jamara Patterson among the country’s established female athletes, but said too few promising juniors were progressing successfully into the senior ranks.

“We need to probably take a deep dive into what’s happening with our young female athletes who we see performing well,” he said.

Mitchell also highlighted triple jumper Christanna Charles, whom he described as a well-rounded athlete with the potential to progress if she continues to receive proper guidance and support.

The comments identify relay development and the transition of female athletes among Mitchell’s early priorities. However, the GAA has not yet announced implementation dates, selection standards, or targeted competitions for the proposed relay teams.

Peters claims another European podium; James seventh in Brescia

2026-08-30T18:09:47.469-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

BERLIN, Germany, Aug. 30, 2026 - Anderson Peters secured his second podium finish in four days with a runner-up effort in the men’s javelin at ISTAF Berlin on Sunday, while fellow Grenadian Kirani James ran under 45 seconds but placed seventh at the Grand Prix Brescia in Italy.

Peters recorded a best throw of 83.32 metres, finishing behind Germany’s Julian Weber, who delighted the home crowd with a winning effort of 89.54m.

The two-time world champion entered the final round in second place with 83.10m before improving by 22 centimetres with his last attempt.

Weber also saved his best for the final round, moving from 85.59m to 89.54m to secure the victory.

American Marc Anthony Minichello finished third with 83.28m, just four centimetres behind Peters. Germany’s Nick Thumm was fourth with 83.10m.

Sunday’s result gave Peters another runner-up finish after his season-best throw of 86.93m at the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday.

In Brescia, James completed the men’s 400m in 44.92 seconds but had to settle for seventh in a race separated by narrow margins.

South Africa’s Leendert Koekemoer won in 44.52, with Dutch runner Jonas Phijffers second in 44.61. Australia’s Reece Holder secured third in 44.63.

James finished only four-tenths of a second behind the winner and 0.29 outside the podium. His performance was his second sub-45-second clocking in four days, following his season best of 44.83 for third in Zurich.

There were two victories for OECS athletes at the Brescia meeting.

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Shafiqua Maloney won the women’s 800m in one minute, 58.03 seconds.

Ireland’s Sophie O’Sullivan finished second in 1:58.60, narrowly ahead of Italy’s Eloisa Coiro, who took third in 1:58.62.

Dominica’s Olympic champion Thea LaFond won the women’s triple jump with 14.50m, achieved in the third round against a 1.6 metres-per-second headwind.

Bulgaria’s Gabriela Petrova placed second with 14.17m, while Jamaica’s Ackelia Smith completed the podium with 14.13m.

NACAC President urges CARICOM to establish wider sports committee

2026-08-29T17:23:32.327-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

NASSAU, Bahamas, Aug. 29, 2026 - President of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC), Mike Sands, is calling for CARICOM to consider establishing a high-level sports commission or subcommittee, arguing that Caribbean political leaders need more structured and continuous engagement with sport beyond the regional grouping’s existing focus on cricket.

Speaking on Saturday’s TalkSports programme, Sands suggested that CARICOM could identify one of its political leaders to chair such a body and help ensure that sport receives greater attention as part of the region’s development agenda.

“Maybe it’s time for CARICOM to select one of those leaders to be the chair of a sports commission, if they don’t already have one,” Sands said.

During the discussion, it was noted that CARICOM has a prime ministerial subcommittee dealing with cricket. Sands said the concept should be widened.

“There should be a subcommittee probably for sports. That’s the point I make - not just cricket, sport,” he said.

Sands believes there is an opportunity to build on the recent engagement between CARICOM and regional athletics, particularly as preparations begin for Guyana to host the 2027 CARIFTA Games.

He disclosed that discussions surrounding the Games included the prospect of inviting, at minimum, CARICOM ministers responsible for sport.

“If we really want to sensitise our heads to the importance of sport, I think they need to be gathered in one place on a more regular basis,” Sands said.

He argued that such engagement should continue irrespective of changes in political administrations.

“Politics change the individual, but it should not change some principle things about nation-building,” he said, adding that political leaders and ministers responsible for sport and education have important roles in preparing the next generation.

Sands also stressed that any regional initiative should recognise the wider CARIFTA family and not be confined solely to CARICOM membership.

He noted that while all CARIFTA members may not belong to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), OECS members form part of the CARIFTA structure. The wider athletics family also includes territories outside CARICOM, which Sands said must be considered in any regional approach.

Beyond political cooperation, Sands said the 2027 Games should leave Guyana with tangible benefits.

“First of all, I think you have improved facilities. Let’s start with that. And you’ve got your full inventory of equipment,” he said.

Sands also expects knowledge gained from hosting the Games to remain with local officials, coaches, and athletes.

He said one of the longer-term outcomes should be a stronger relationship between CARICOM and the wider CARIFTA sporting community, creating more regular dialogue on the contribution sport can make to national and regional development.

Regulatory disparities delaying end of CARICOM roaming charges - CTU

2026-08-27T17:31:19.220-04:00

Governments urged to harmonise taxes and telecommunications rules across the region

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Aug. 27, 2026 - Differences in taxes and telecommunications regulations across CARICOM Member States remain a major obstacle to the full elimination of mobile roaming charges, according to Secretary-General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), Rodney Taylor.

Taylor said regional telecommunications providers have argued that they cannot introduce a single domestic-style arrangement while operating under different regulatory and tax requirements in each country.

“The operators have said we’re not able to do this because there’s disparity in regulatory regimes within the CARICOM Member States,” Taylor told reporters on Tuesday.

He was speaking during a media conference on the sidelines of the 22nd Caribbean Internet Governance Forum at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort.

Taylor said some telecommunications taxes and charges imposed in countries such as Jamaica and Barbados do not apply in Grenada or Saint Lucia. He said governments and regulators must therefore work towards harmonising their rules before the region can achieve the complete removal of roaming charges.

“We have some work to do on our side as governments and regulators to ensure that there’s also harmonisation on the regulatory side,” he said.

CARICOM took an initial step in February 2022 with the signing of the Declaration of St George’s Towards the Reduction of Intra-CARICOM Roaming Charges.

The agreement, reached with Digicel Group and Cable & Wireless Communications, introduced lower and more predictable rates for regional voice calls, text messages and mobile data. However, it stopped short of eliminating roaming charges.

Taylor stressed that the 2022 agreement was intended as a step towards the wider objective of allowing CARICOM residents to use their domestic mobile packages while travelling within the region.

He recalled Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley describing the desired arrangement as one in which Caribbean people could “roam like you’re at home, because you are at home within the region.”

Taylor pointed to the European Union, where customers can generally use their domestic mobile plans while travelling between participating countries without paying additional roaming charges.

He said the same principle should eventually apply to people travelling between Grenada, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia and other CARICOM countries.

The CTU Secretary-General noted that the main telecommunications providers already manage their networks on a regional basis. Once governments address the differences in taxes and regulations, he said, the operators should have little justification for maintaining high roaming fees.

Taylor said customers travelling within the region should already be able to purchase roaming packages introduced under the St George’s Declaration.

“Coming out of the Declaration of St George’s, you should be able to buy a roaming passport for any destination that you go to within the Caribbean,” he said. “If you get a high bill, call me.”

He also pointed to the growing availability of electronic SIM cards, or eSIMs, which allow travellers to purchase data plans without changing a physical SIM card. Taylor said he has used inexpensive eSIM packages during his international travels for services such as Google Maps, video streaming and ride-hailing applications.

“The era of high and ridiculous roaming charges should be over right now,” he said. “Certainly, within the CARICOM Single ICT Space, it should not exist.”

Taylor said the CTU would continue working with national regulators, including National Telecommunications Regulatory Commissions, and emerging regional regulatory bodies to address the remaining disparities.

He did not provide a timetable for the complete elimination of roaming charges.

Peters and James earn podium finishes on record-breaking night in Zurich

2026-08-27T16:53:17.058-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

ZURICH, Switzerland, Aug. 27, 2026 - Anderson Peters and Kirani James produced season-best performances to secure podium finishes for Grenada at the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday, on a night when two world records were broken at the Letzigrund Stadium.

Peters finished second in the men’s javelin throw with 86.93 metres, while James placed third in the men’s 400 metres in 44.83 seconds.

Peters recorded his season's best in the opening round and held the early lead before Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage moved ahead with 88.23m in the second round.

Pathirage strengthened his position with 89.90m in the third round before producing a winning throw of 92.07m with his final attempt.

Peters followed his opening effort with throws of 82.17m, 83.52m, 84.22m and 82.08m before fouling in the last round. Poland’s Dawid Wegner took third with a season best of 85.16m.

“The energy here is always nice, and we had some really good throws today,” Peters said. “I am grateful for the season best, but I started to miss the javelin a little bit. We are heading in the right direction, and the aim is to peak at the Ultimate Championships.”

The two-time world champion said finding the right balance in his approach remains important as he prepares for his remaining competitions.

“Today, maybe I was a little bit too relaxed,” he said. “At the previous competition, I was a bit faster and a little more tense. It’s always about finding the balance of how we should approach the competition.”

Peters, whose personal best is 93.07m, remains confident that another throw beyond 90 metres is within reach.

“My PB is 93m. I am capable of throwing 90m,” he said. “The plan was to throw it even today, but I was a bit too comfortable. I am ready for the next one.”

James also recorded his fastest time of the season in the additional men’s 400m, which was not part of the Diamond League points programme.

Running from lane six, the Grenadian finished strongly to take third in 44.83 seconds.

Japan’s Yuki Joseph Nakajima won the race in a season best of 44.62, with Italy’s Edoardo Scotti second in 44.70. American Vernon Norwood placed fourth in 44.92.

The evening’s biggest performances came in the hurdles.

Brazil’s Alison dos Santos stormed to a world record of 45.80 seconds in the men’s 400m hurdles, lowering the previous mark of 45.94 set by Norway’s Karsten Warholm at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.

Warholm finished second in 46.69, while Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel was third in 47.50.

Less than half an hour later, Masai Russell of the United States established a world record in the women’s 100m hurdles, clocking 12.09 seconds in still conditions.

Russell erased the previous record of 12.12 set by Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan in 2022. Amusan finished second on Thursday with a season best of 12.23, while Nadine Visser of the Netherlands was third in 12.34.

Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred led the other notable Caribbean performances, winning the women’s 100m in a national record of 10.70 seconds despite a 0.7 metres-per-second headwind.

American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden was also credited with 10.70, but Alfred was awarded the victory following a photo finish. Sha’Carri Richardson of the United States placed third in 10.97.

“Staying at the top is definitely a harder job than making it up there,” Alfred said. “We have a long way to go in Saint Lucia, but we are getting there. A national record puts Saint Lucia on the map.”

Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell finished second in the men’s shot put with 22.22m. American Jordan Geist won with a personal best of 22.53m, while Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri was third with 22.16m.

Rushell Clayton added another podium finish for Jamaica, placing third in the women’s 400m hurdles in 53.17 seconds. She missed second place by one-hundredth of a second, with American Dalilah Muhammad clocking a season best of 53.16.

Anna Cockrell of the United States won the race in a world-leading and meeting-record time of 52.13.

Zurich was the final regular-season meeting before the two-day Diamond League Final in Brussels on September 4 and 5. Peters has qualified to represent Grenada in the men’s javelin final, while James’ race in Zurich was outside the championship points series.

Grenada approves licence for new 5G mobile operator

2026-08-27T16:44:02.055-04:00

AI-assisted passenger processing system also planned for 2027

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Aug. 27, 2026 - Grenada has approved a licence for a new mobile telecommunications operator that is expected to introduce 5G service to the country, according to Chairman of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC), Vincent Roberts.

Roberts made the disclosure during a media conference on Tuesday but did not identify the company or provide a date for the start of its operations.

“I wouldn’t be saying anything out of form if I say that Grenada has just approved a licence for a new mobile operator,” he told reporters. “It is not in the public domain as yet, but we will be having a 5G operator in Grenada very soon.”

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the 22nd Caribbean Internet Governance Forum, held from August 24–26 at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort.

Roberts also outlined plans for the introduction of an Advance Passenger Information System and AI-assisted processing of arriving travellers.

Under the system, Grenadian authorities would receive passenger information before a traveller arrives in the country. Roberts said facial-recognition technology could then be used to match an arriving passenger with the information already received, allowing those cleared by the system to move through immigration more quickly.

He said the technology could also provide a personalised greeting to returning travellers as they pass through the arrival area.

Roberts indicated that work on the system could begin before the end of 2026, with implementation expected during 2027.

“When you book a flight, and you’re coming to Grenada, we will receive the information beforehand,” he explained. “As you’re walking through the corridor to go to immigration, they will use a photograph to match it with the advance information.”

The Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Bill, which went before Parliament earlier this year, provides a legal framework for the collection, processing, sharing, and protection of information relating to people travelling to, from, or through Grenada.

It also provides for the establishment of a Passenger Information Unit and the appointment of a Data Protection Officer.

Roberts said the passenger system forms part of a wider digital transformation programme that includes digitised civil, land, birth, and death registries.

He said greater information-sharing among government departments should eventually remove the need for citizens to obtain documents from one agency to present to another.

Using a passport application as an example, Roberts said applicants should not have to produce a birth certificate when that information is already held by the government.

He also pointed to the recently approved Digital Transformation Agency legislation, which is intended to coordinate digital projects across government and reduce separate ministries developing incompatible systems.

Roberts said considerable technical and legal work had been required before implementation could begin.

“Grenada is on the cusp of big things happening,” he said. “It took a lot of foundational work, making sure that the technical and legal framework is in place so that implementation can start.”

No further information was provided about the new mobile operator’s coverage plans or commercial launch. Details on the cost, procurement, and final operation of the proposed AI-assisted passenger processing system were also not disclosed.

James and Peters set for Zurich Diamond League action

2026-08-26T16:54:35.642-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

ZURICH, Switzerland, Aug. 26, 2026 - Kirani James and Anderson Peters will carry Grenada’s colours at the Weltklasse Zürich meeting on Thursday, the final stop before next month’s Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels.

James will compete in the men’s 400 metres, while Peters will line up in the men’s javelin throw at the Letzigrund Stadium.

Drawn in lane six, James will face Switzerland’s Manuel Gerber, Haydn Brotschi, Lionel Spitz and Ricky Petrucciani, along with Japan’s Yuki Joseph Nakajima, American Vernon Norwood and Italy’s Edoardo Scotti.

Although the race does not carry Diamond League points, it offers James a competitive field. Norwood has the fastest season’s best among the starters at 44.58 seconds, followed by Scotti at 44.96. James enters the race with a season’s best of 45.04.

James has enjoyed success in Zurich before. He won the Diamond League 400m title at the same venue in 2022, clocking 44.26 seconds.

The 2012 Olympic champion has not competed on the Diamond League championship circuit this season, however, and will not be part of the 400m final in Brussels.

Peters, meanwhile, has already secured his place in the javelin final and will use Thursday’s competition as another test against some of the leading throwers in the world.

The two-time world champion will face Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who leads the 2026 world list with 92.62m, as well as Curtis Thompson of the United States, Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago and Germany’s Thomas Röhler.

The field also includes Julius Yego of Kenya, Patriks Gailums of Latvia, Marc Anthony Minichello of the United States, Dawid Wegner of Poland and Switzerland’s Simon Wieland.

Peters has a season’s best of 86.69m and will be seeking a strong performance before turning his attention to the Diamond League title.

Zurich is the penultimate stop on the overall Diamond League calendar and the final qualifying meeting of the season.

The Allianz Memorial Van Damme will host the two-day Diamond League Final at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on September 4 and 5. The leading athletes from the 2026 series will compete across 32 events for the Diamond League titles and trophies.

Peters will represent Grenada in the men’s javelin final, while Thursday’s race in Zurich will be James’ final appearance on the Diamond League calendar this season.

John wins World Masters gold with championship record

2026-08-25T11:10:46.906-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

DAEGU, South Korea, Aug. 25, 2026 - Nigel “Bunto” John has won Grenada’s first gold medal at the World Masters Athletics Championships (WMAC), setting a championship record.

John won the men’s M50 long jump on Tuesday with 6.64 metres, improving the previous championship record of 6.59m. He finished just 20 centimetres short of the world record of 6.84m.

“To win Grenada’s first gold medal at the World Masters Championships and to do it with a championship record means a lot to me,” John, who is based in Canada, told GrenadaSports.

“This is my first World Masters Championships representing Grenada, so I am very proud to be able to deliver this performance for the country.”

The title was decided by a single centimetre. Bakri Daroueche of France took the silver medal with 6.63m, while former Jamaican Olympian James Beckford secured bronze with 6.33m.

Beckford was the long jump silver medallist at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, finishing behind American great Carl Lewis.

John said his winning effort could have been considerably longer.

“I went beyond seven metres, but I fell backwards, and my hands touched the sand behind me,” he explained.

“That is where they had to measure from, so the jump was recorded at 6.64. I missed the world record, but I am thankful that it was still enough to win the gold medal and set a new championship record.”

Grenada’s participation in the championships continues on Thursday, South Korean time. John will return for the M50 200m, while Curtis Brereton will compete in the M65 5,000m.

Both athletes are also entered in the 400m, with competition beginning on Saturday. John is scheduled to compete in the M50 400m on Sunday, August 30 - Saturday night in the Caribbean.

The date carries special significance for Grenada. It will be exactly 15 years since Kirani James won the men’s 400m at the 2011 World Athletics Championships at the same stadium in Daegu.

For John, the gold medal is also an opportunity to bring greater attention to masters athletics in Grenada.

He hopes the performances in Daegu will lead to recognition from the Grenada Athletics Association.

“We have made several attempts to get recognition from the GAA, but we have not been successful,” he told GrenadaSports.

“I am hoping the performances here will help to change that and open the door for discussion. We are representing Grenada and doing our best for the country.”

John expressed appreciation to the Government of Grenada for assisting the athletes with travel and accommodation.

“I must thank the Government of Grenada for the assistance with our travel and accommodation,” he said. “That support helped to make it possible for us to be here and compete.”

He also hopes the achievement will encourage more people to become involved in and support Grenada Masters Athletics, which was formed in 2015.

“I hope this medal inspires more people to get involved and support Grenada Masters Athletics,” John said. “We want to continue competing, representing Grenada and helping masters athletics to grow.”

The World Masters Athletics Championships continue at Daegu Stadium until September 3.

Carriacou-rooted coach Jonathan Alexis joins Towson University

2026-08-24T20:44:16.873-04:00

by Michael Bascombe

TOWSON, Maryland, Aug. 24, 2026 - Brooklyn-born track and field coach Jonathan Alexis, whose family roots are in Carriacou, has joined Towson University’s track and field and cross-country coaching staff.

Alexis will serve as an assistant coach, responsible for the jumps and multi-events. His appointment was announced on Monday by Towson head coach Consandria Walker-Hall.

Although born in Brooklyn, New York, Alexis has strong ties to Grenada through the sister isle of Carriacou.

He moves to the Maryland-based university after spending the past three years as an assistant coach at Alabama State University. There, he worked mainly with jumpers, pole vaulters, and multi-event athletes.

During his time at Alabama State, Alexis helped to develop several NCAA qualifiers and contributed to four Southwestern Athletic Conference team championships. He also helped develop some of the leading collegiate jumpers in the United States.

Walker-Hall said Alexis brings valuable experience and a record of success to the programme.

“He brings a proven record of success at every level,” she said, adding that she expects him to make an immediate contribution to Towson’s athletes and coaching staff.

Alexis welcomed the opportunity to begin another chapter in his coaching career.

“I am thankful to Coach Walker for giving me this opportunity,” he said. He is looking forward to working with the staff and athletes as the programme builds on its recent progress.

Before joining Alabama State, Alexis coached at Iowa Central Community College, Carver Academy in Virginia and his alma mater, Virginia Union University.

His work at Iowa Central covered jumps, combined events, sprints, hurdles and middle-distance events. Under his guidance, Iowa Central produced top-ranked NJCAA groups in the decathlon, heptathlon, high jump, long jump and triple jump on several occasions.

Alexis was also named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year five times.

He holds several professional qualifications, including USATF Level I certification and USTFCCCA technical and combined-events certifications.

Alexis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Union University and an Associate of Arts degree from Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn.