Article Image Alt Text

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland makes a point while President of the Barbados Cricket Association Conde Riley (right) and Calvin Hope vice president of the BCA listen.

Barbados to host Commonwealth 'Peace at the Crease'

Barbados will be the location for the Commonwealth Peace at the Crease charity match in October.

This partnership was announced yesterday by the Commonwealth secretary-general, Baroness Patricia Scotland who revealed to the media present that they hope “to use sport for good governance and for peace, as part of an initiative we call ‘Peace at the Crease.’”

The match is slated to coincide with Barbados hosting the 15th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) quadrennial meeting in October 2020.

Scotland expressed that cricket it is quintessentially Commonwealth and it has been at the root of bringing people together from all over.

“So many of our young people are getting themselves into difficult positions in particularly related to violence and gangs and we wanted our young people to join our gang and our cricket gang which teaches them so many soft skills,” she said.

She stated some of the skills outside of the actual game of cricket players learn, such as “how to be organised, how to work as a team, how to dress well, and how to use your energy in a positive and developing way.”

The initiative which was originally created in 2018 has seen games between the Popes Xi and the Arch Bishop of Canterbury XI as well as a game which involved all religions and those of none. It has since grown from a policy and is now a Charity.

“I am thrilled that here in Barbados the cricketing fraternity are not only committed to this idea of peace and development but they are committed to making it a reality for young people.”

President of the Barbados Cricket Association Conde Riley said the match will coincide with We Gathering’ and they have the ideal icons and legends in Barbados to sell it to the world.

He said that the game will happen when there are about 4 000 delegates on the island.

Riley said that across the Caribbean crime is going through the roof and that they will hope to use Peace at the Crease and the Barbados season to sensitise everyone about where they are and what they need to do.

Calvin Hope vice president of the BCA said they will designate the upcoming season as ‘Peace at the Crease’ and promote it throughout the cricket season this year.

Scotland said the apart from Peace at the Crease she along with Amina Mohamed Sports Minister of Kenya thought about using it for other sports as well, such as having Peace on the Track (Athletics), Peace at the Line (Tennis), Peace at Float (boats), and thus the “Peace on” or “Peace at” can be applied to all sports.

Sport brings people together and one of those sports which brings the Commonwealth together is cricket.

 

Barbados Advocate

Mailing Address:
Advocate Publishers (2000) Inc
Fontabelle, St. Michael, Barbados

Phone: (246) 467-2000
Fax: (246) 434-2020 / (246) 434-1000