Dear Editor,
Amidst the present atmosphere of negative news, l recently woke up to the news that our very own from St. Maarten Imran Amjad McSood has been appointed Independent Director of West Indies Cricket. Big news indeed and here’s why!
Mc Sood is Guyanese by birth, but a true St. Maarten patriot. Locally where our news has been a constant barrage of negatives stories, Mr. McSood’s appointment was a huge and timely reminder that in spite of all the negatives, we have some talented people in our midst – people who have given so much of themselves and are able to contribute significantly to this island’s development and who make a difference.
Imran McSood is one such person. Over the years he has contributed in so many areas – in business, in sports, and in other areas he has been there. Mc Sood’s imprint and contributions are on many sports tournaments throughout the island and throughout the Caribbean. For years he has singlehandedly sponsored the cricket tournament at Caribe Lumber Ballpark on St Maarten.
One remembers years ago he proposed his own money to partner with stakeholders, government and business to build a multi-million-dollar multipurpose sports stadium where the present unsightly and unhealthy dump is located.
This multi-purpose facility would not only host international and local cricket matches, but also international soccer matches and other sports. In spite of much work and money put into this venture, his efforts were not followed up on.
One can only wonder what would this area where the dump is located would be like today had it been transformed into a sports stadium.
Even more importantly from an economic standpoint, the news of his appointment is welcomed by many of us who want to see St. Maarten take that all very important step to get into sports tourism and bring big time sports to our shores.
His legacy in sports and business in St. Maarten/St. Martin is well documented. He not only talks sports, but studies and inspires with his sports rhetoric which brings us to his present appointment.
Mc Sood will bring fresh inspirational and workable ideas to West Indies Cricket, albeit, he is not the director of CWI. In time we will see his input. The President of CWI Mr. Skeritt knows him well and thus at this point when West Indies cricket needs inspiration, this mammoth little man and his ideas are what make this appointment intriguing and interesting.
What can we, on St. Maarten, take from Mr. McSood’s appointment? I firmly believe that over the years we, the people and the authorities who talk economic diversification, are being given another chance. We have spoken of diversification of the economy from as far as I can remember, my hairs were jet-black then. Today they are silver grey, but the same people who spoke diversification then are still in authoritative positions and the economy is the same.
McSood’s appointment gives us another opportunity to bring big time sports to the “Friendly Island”. Ever wonder what 8,000 travelling English Cricket supporters would do for the economy of St. Maarten? Or what the Indian cricket team coming to St. Maarten would mean to the millions of Indians in the US? Ask McSood or Barbados, ask Antigua, ask St. Kitts.
We were left behind through politics and sheer ignorance, but his appointment can help change that. Let’s ask Mac to work with us. I am certain what he will do for West Indies cricket, he will do for St. Maarten.
