The 10th CARICOM Social Security Games – A Huge Success

ZIZ News…April 8, 2010 – St. Kitts and Nevis hosted the 10th Anniversary of the CARICOM Social Security Games over this Easter weekend from 1st to 5th April 2010. Over 400 guests from all across the Caribbean spent the weekend with their local counterparts from the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, enabling the event to stand out as a microcosm of regional integration.

On its home turf, St. Kitts and Nevis emerged as the winner of the actual Sports Day Sunday 4th April amassing a total of 88 points; ahead of nearest rivals the British Virgin Islands who scored 74 points. Barbados racked up 71 points to take the third place position.

The other teams mustered the following point tallies:

4th Place: St.Lucia (66)
5th Place:Saint.Vincent and The Grenadines (48)
6th Place: Antigua and Barbuda (43)
7th Place: Guyana (39)
8th Place: Trinidad and Tobago (38)
9th Place: Grenada (25) and Anguilla (25)
10th Dominica (17)

The Sports Day was held under the distinguished patronage of the Governor General His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian under whose watchful eye, along with the intense scrutiny of the Minister of Social Security Hon. Sam Condor, the host country competed exceptionally well. It featured a myriad of fun sports mixed with some athletic events.

Highlights of these were the 100 metre dash and 4 X 100 metre relays for both male and females. In the Directors Race the local competitor Mrs. Sephlin Lawrence placed second behind the participant from Anguilla. The crowning moment, however, was the finals of the Tug-O-War event between Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis. The host country won with two successive pull downs in a best of three effort.

The games day was preceded by a Parade through the streets of Basseterre from Greenlands to the Football Stadium. To start the competitive action all teams delivered a choreographed drill and, or dance presentation. This was won by Trinidad and Tobago with Barbados in second place and St. Kitts and Nevis achieving the third position. St. Kitts and Nevis’ choreography was the creation of Ms. Heidi Slack. The scores allotted to this segment did not form part of the tally of scores in determining the final positions of teams.

The hosting of the event was made possible by the overwhelming support of a number of organizations, government departments and individuals. However, significant special sponsorship was secured from the following entities:

• Platinum Sponsorship – The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan); The St. Kitts Nevis and Anguilla National Bank Ltd.; Construction Technologies D. T.
• Gold Sponsorship – Carib Breweries Ltd.; Spectrum Inc. (Florida); St. Kitts Marriott Resort
• Silver Sponsorship – Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis
• Bronze Sponsorship – The Cable; Caribbean Credit Card Corporation; Kajola Kristada Ltd.; Janouras Custom Design (Trinidad and Tobago)
• Other Sponsors – Royal Bank Ltd.; Demerara Distillers Ltd.

The games started in 2000 when it was hosted by Trinidad and Tobago and has been held in several other countries over the years: Grenada in 2001; Guyana in 2002; Antigua and Barbuda in 2003; St. Lucia in 2004; Trinidad and Tobago hosted again in 2005; Dominica in 2006; Barbados in 2008; and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2009.

The primary purpose of the annual event is to foster camaraderie among staff of fellow Social Security institutions across the region. However, the event has tremendous value for tourism in the respective host countries. Accordingly, local organizers enlist the support of corporate and other sponsors in assisting in funding the exercise.

The Social Security Board would like to express thanks and appreciation to all sponsors and the many other partners including government departments, the corporate community and numerous groups and individuals for their support in hosting the 10th Anniversary of the CARICOM Social Security Games.