On Saturday the 8th of March, I received a WhatsApp message regarding The UWI Relay Fest at the Usain Bolt stadium. I had a previous engagement and was between two minds whether to attend or not after, which would have been two hours after the event had started.
After returning home after my engagement around 6:00 pm, I decided that I would attend the relays to see some of the talent that Barbados will be sending to the upcoming CARIFTA Games over the Easter weekend. I reached the stadium around 6:30 pm and upon arrival, I realised that the stadium was packed to capacity due to the number of vehicles parked all over the place. I eventually found a parking space some distance from the venue in the Archives building parking lot.
On my way to the stadium, I came across two of my running colleagues who told me that the meet was running late and that it was poorly organised. When I got to the entrance with money in hand, I was asked by security to see the contents of my bag and I asked him why, he informed me to make sure that I do not have a scissor in the bag, I complied.
I proceeded to the inside of the stadium which was packed to capacity with standing room only with children in attendence as young as six years old. The relays consisted of Elementary and Secondary school children as well as the University and Clubs. There was the usual Deejay and announcer providing entertainment and communicating info about the events. At some point after my arriving and in between the events and music, two young artists appeared on the track and began singing very lewd lyrics with the young and old repeating the lyrics word for word. The artists asked the crowd to sing with many wukkin up throughout the three or four songs the artists sang.
Of all the entertainers in Barbados the UWI could only find this type of entertainment which was totally out of character for the type of event? There were children in attendance. Every day, wherever you go across the length and breath of Barbados you can hear people asking, how the youth get so? Well in my opinion, based on what I witnessed during those relays, one has to lay the blame squarely at the feet of the adults and the authorities. I left the games after forty-five minutes in frustration, angry, annoyed and disappointed that the highest learning institution in the land could expose our youth as well as parents to such outlandish behaviour. However, I do compliment The UWI for making the effort to put on the meet because there is a lack of track meets for the athletes to compete to assist with development.
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