President of the Saint Lucia Boxing Association, David “Shakes” Christopher, has chastised boxing associations across the Eastern Caribbean, urging them to intensify their efforts to develop the sport regionally. His remarks came during a press conference ahead of this weekend’s Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Invitational Boxing Championships, set to take place at the Pavilion in Rodney Bay.
Saint Lucia has hosted the championships for three consecutive editions, an achievement largely attributed to the SLBA’s consistent ability to organise well-run regional tournaments. Saint Lucia also hosted the Caribbean Championships earlier this year.
In his typical no-nonsense style, Christopher drew parallels between what he sees as regional inaction and the prolonged struggles of the West Indies cricket team. He warned that Caribbean boxing could face a similar fate if regional participation and leadership are not prioritised.
“What we’re doing in Saint Lucia is voluntary and can attract partners like the OECS Commission, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee, National Lottery, and the Ministry of Sports. What’s wrong with the other countries around the region? They should abandon that regional integration because they’re not integrating anything, and we are very dissatisfied with the vibes we’re getting coming out in the region.”
He emphasised that being an OECS member state means little if one does not take action.
“Yes, you’re a member state, but if you don’t raise your hands, you’re letting down your country,” he said. “There’s only so much that the OECS Commission can do. If the member states of the OECS do not raise their hands, we’re going to find ourselves lagging, just like the West Indies cricket team. Getting bowled out for 27, and we cannot bat a day.”
Shakes further called on partners, including government agencies in neighbouring territories, to play a more active role in advancing the sport.
“Sports cannot be left up to the associations to run, because most of the associations work on subventions, and the subventions cannot really run a programme for a year. We see investing in different areas, but what about the sports?”
He lamented the lack of regional support for initiatives such as “Hands in Gloves, Not on Guns,” which failed to gain traction despite being promoted around the Caribbean.
“We sold it around the region; they never ran with it. And it’s all about fancy talk when somebody wins a medal, then they’re coming out like, ‘Oh we this, we that.’ You have to put your money and your mouth where it’s supposed to be.”
