‘In sports and in life – Politics make strange bed-fellows!’

Aug 21, 2011 Sports

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By Colin E. Croft

Most people know that I do not like politics, or, as Caribbean people say, “poli-tricks!”  I like aviation and sports.  Politics is an extremely strange game; most political situations are for personal gain.  I also know that being in the Caribbean, one has to negotiate, navigate, and learn to dance too, with politicians!
This evolving spat – Trinidad & Tobago’s Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs, Mr. Anil Roberts v President of Trinidad & Tobago’s Cricket Board, Mr. Azim Basserath – is very funny indeed.  I really laughed hard!

Speedy Gonzalez and Pepe Le Pew – ‘Looney Tunes’ – would suggest this open challenge:  “Pistols, or swords, at 12 paces – en garde!”  Bugs Bunny could chip in too:  “Of course you know, this means war!”
Two rhinoceroses fighting is not a pleasant sight.  They butt heads together until one falls, with severe headaches and head injuries.  The other then gores the fallen to death.  Always, it is a fight to the finish!
Why do I think similarly for this T&T’s situation between these two big, heavy hitters in its cricket?
Meanwhile, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard are not in this fracas, though they really are its subjects.  Politics make strange bed-fellows and people do whatever is necessary to survive.  Columbian drug-lord, Pablo Escobar, once remarked – “Everyone has a price.  The important thing is to find out what it is!”
How come no-one saw this coming back in 2009, when T&T first qualified for Champions League?  This was always going to be a possibility.  Like good Air Traffic Controllers, it should have been planned for!
I know more about Caribbean politics and its machinations than most, even though I have been involved in only three general elections in my lifetime.  I have never even been into a polling booth!
In 1968 general elections, aged 15, I helped transport folks to vote in my area of Mahaica, in Guyana.   In 1978, I was told, by someone very close to me, that she found out, and could not understand it, but that I had voted 24 times in that year’s election.  I could not understand that either.  I did not even know that I was a registered voter.  Similarly, I certainly was not earmarked to vote for any party at all!
In Guyana’s politics back then, anything was really possible.  Those were the days when it was decided, arbitrarily, that 100,000 voting Guyanese lived overseas; possible proxy votes.  The opposition did not get one single overseas vote!  Even more amazingly, not one vote was spoiled – absolutely unbelievable!
An even more impossible fact to appreciate was that I was already in Australia, at World Series Cricket, (Kerry Packer), when that election was held.  I still wonder how I managed to do both simultaneously!
I have already voted in all Guyana general elections until I am 105 years old – 2058. I may not make that!
In 2008, by proxy, I voted for Barack.  I even now joke that I have two presidents – Barack and Bharrat!
Anyway, in 1993, aged 40, I came back to the Caribbean to live permanently, after being away for 10 years.  I thought that I could return, do good stuff for cricket, get fully into aviation, and all would be well with the professional world.  Little did I realize the circumstances that I would encounter!
I even decided to try my hand with the political thing.  I met with then Minister of Works and Transport in Trinidad & Tobago, and, similarly, President of Guyana, suggesting that, with my qualifications and experiences, in aviation and international cricket, that they could assist my hopes; use me fully!
Both gave me the same answer:  “Yes, Mr. Croft, you are one of our heroes, one of the best fast bowlers that the world has seen.  It is nice that you have done so much to further your education.  Of course we must help you.  We need people like you to inspire our youth.  We must look after our own, you know!”
Two things have happened since.  I never heard from either again, and, they are both now dead!  End!
I make reference to cricket and aviation with a purpose.  Everyone has to answer to someone when he or she is in public office, in sports and aviation, and, I imagine, in politics.  Even the supposedly most powerful man in the world, President of USA, still has to answer to Michelle and their two little girls too!
As Air Traffic Controllers, in Guyana & T&T, we had to account, for shenanigans, to Senior ATCO’s, who,  in turn, represented us to their manager, Minister of Works and Transport, who answered to Prime Minister, who had to consult with the President.  Trinidad & Tobago leaves out the President stage!
Caribbean Cricket Boards seldom answer to anyone, and are accountable to no-one.  This permeates down from West Indies Cricket Board.  It is only now, when ‘doo-doo’ has fully splashed about, after 15+ years of unadulterated, unsuccessful crap that WICB has shouted for help. They know that they are lost!
The problem is that WICB is now asking politicians of the region – Who! What? – for help.  When I read that, I was sure that I was going mad.  These are the same politicians who have been trying, since 1960’s, to make the Caribbean a real peaceful, together community.  Is someone joking here?
To listen to TTCB President suggesting that he does not have to consult with his overall manager of T&T sports, Minister of Sport, is not surprising.  It is, and has been, the standard par for our cricket course!
Here are facts that politicians do not like, or want, to acknowledge, in our little crab-barrel – the Caribbean – where everyone who tries to get up is simply forced to come back down to the bad levels.
If Shivnarine Chanderpaul leaves Guyana, to play for West Indies in Grenada, or Marlon Samuels leaves Jamaica, to represent us in Barbados, they are both asked that ubiquitous question – “How long will you be staying here” – by Immigration Officers, whose fault it really is not.  They just do their jobs!
Does this make sense?  Only by politics this is possible.  A guy leaves his veranda – Jamaica – to go to his kitchen – Guyana – in his own “home” – the Caribbean – yet he has to have permission to do that?
Do you know that in parts of our English-speaking Caribbean, an American or European could land and enter into some countries without a passport, with just a driver’s license for identification?  Yet, every Caribbean citizen travelling to another Caribbean country needs a passport, or that no entry is given!
The incompetence of the Caribbean’s politicians is so appalling and small-minded that it is mind-boggling.  Some of these little fiefs have no more than 60,000 people to administer to!  God help us!
It is sad that T&T’s cricket has to come down to its sporting line Minister not being on the same page as a massive sporting organization under his wing, in such public glare.  It is quite embarrassing too!
Coincidentally, unfortunately, Caribbean Airlines has done similarly recently too.
What is wrong with these pictures?  Is there more than politics involved here?  Who knows?  Enjoy!

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