The nomination process yielded one candidate, Mr. Dennis ‘Freddie’ Knight, who has served as Vice President of the SKNOC for many years under the leadership of the late President Bridgewater. With no other nominations, Mr. Knight was declared the new President of the SKNOC.

In his acceptance speech, President Knight emphasized his commitment to advancing the organization and fostering deeper discussions on discovering new pathways. He stated, “What has been established by Mr. Bridgewater and the teams that he has led has been very significant in the progress of sport. Not only sports within the Olympic Committee, but sport in general in St. Kitts and Nevis.”

President Knight further highlighted his vision for the future, saying, “I see one of the most important jobs that I have to do as president is to oversee that transition from the old way and what we’re doing now into a new way and the structure that we take on international sport. I look forward to asking some of you, and you agreeing, to work on some commissions so that all the work isn’t left up to, again, just the people that you see in front of you. And so that, in not too long from now, there will be that change which will take us forward.”

With Mr. Knight’s acceptance of the presidency, the SKNOC now faces the task of filling the now vacant post of Vice President. The organization looks forward to continuing its mission under new leadership and embracing the future of sports in St. Kitts and Nevis.

I extend those congratulations and bid Ms. Henderson and her Team welcome in the name of the SKNOC/CGA.

In the same breath, we acknowledge that Ms. Henderson comes to the environment as no stranger, and as a consequence the value thus attribute adds to the mix.

Similarly, we acknowledge the pivotal leadership afforded the TTOC/CGA by the outgoing President Brian Lewis during his tenure and are enthused by the continuity that the indefatigable and longstanding, loyal and dedicated Secretary-General, Annette Knott, will provide.
Heartiest congratulations, one and all!

A. E. Bridgewater, C.S.M.
President SKNOC/CGA

The election of officers took place after the conclusion of the 75th Annual General Meeting (AGM) kicked off promptly at 9:00 a.m. The audited financial statements and the annual report, both for 2021, were approved at the AGM.

Ms. Henderson won by a margin of 24 votes to 10 over the other contender Rowena Williams, with 70 percent of the vote.

President Henderson has contributed significantly to sports governance, athlete welfare, strategic planning and sports mediation. As Chair of Women In Sport Commission, she has been a key proponent for the continued push for Education in Sport in Trinidad and Tobago.

Ms. Henderson has a demonstrated history of working in sports management, being the first female on the executive board of the NAAA’s leaving a line of female executive members who contributed to its progress and has been an integral member and very instrumental in several aspects of development at the TTOC.

She is also the current Chairperson of the Trinidad and Tobago Marathon Committee where she has been responsible for the final decision-making on event coordination, developing race portals, social media upkeep, website coordination and private sector fundraising. Ms. Henderson has four decades of proven leadership at both Colfire and Angostura, where she left a legacy of health and wellness in their respective industries.

Ms. Henderson attained both an Associate’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTATT).

President Henderson – who will also serve as President of the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association (TTCGA) and the Trinidad and Tobago Sand and Beach
Games Association (TTSBGA) – said, “Thank you to the general council for entrusting me in leading the TTOC and taking on this new mantle. I am stoked and thrilled in demonstrating my leadership abilities to carry the organization into the new world of sport, innovation and commercialism.”

“It would be remiss of me not to mention my predecessor, Mr. Brian Lewis, for his unstinting dedication and commitment to the TTOC/TTCGA/TTSBGA. Nothing has gone unnoticed. Thanks also to everyone who supported me throughout my sporting and other careers leading to this occasion.” “I look forward to working with each and every one of you, especially the new Executive Board.” she continued.

A few of President Henderson’s Achievements over the years:

• Elected Member on the World Triathlon Multisport Committee (WTMC) January
  2021 – 2024.
• Chef de Mission on four occasions PanAm Games 2015, 2019 and 2021 Junior;
  Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018 and Assistant Chef in Glasgow 2014.
• Committee Member on the Trinidad and Tobago Marathon Committee (TTMC)
  2005-2008; Chairperson on the TTMC 2009-2022 achieving a 40 year milestone
  national event.
• Committee member with the Trinidad and Tobago Road Runners Club (TTRRC)
  1985-2003.
• Committee member with N.A.A.A. 1990 – 1993.
• IAAF Track and Field Coach and Technical Official 1996/7 at several Regional
  Games.
• President of Trinidad and Tobago Triathlon Federation (TTTF) 1999-2000, and other
  roles on the Executive over a span of fifteen years.
• Team member on the 2020 Vision Panel for High Performance, with D. Murray, L.
  Romany, R Tim Kee (deceased).

TTOC’s New Executive Board

President: Ms. Diane Henderson
Immediate Past President: Mr. Brian Lewis
1st Vice President: Mr. Ephraim Serrette
2nd Vice President: Ms. Reyah Richardson
3rd Vice President: Ms. Rowena Williams
Secretary General: Mrs. Annette Knott
Assistant Secretary General: Ms. Nadine Seemungal
Treasurer: Mr. Curtis Nero
Trustee: Mr. Dave Williams
Trustee: Ms. Racquel Moses
Member: Dr. Terry Ali
Member: Ms. Sonja Johnson
Member: Mr. Mushtaque Muhammed

But extra-special CONGRATULATIONS are due to the hurdler, Jermahd Huggins–who made it to the podium on two successive occasions in his speciality of hurdles (400m & 110m).

Put in perspective, against the challenges posed by Covid over the past 2 years, the accomplishment of Jermahd assumes even greater significance.

In light of a previous conversation we ( Delwayne & Bridgewater) would have had in focusing on the future of Track and Field, the outcomes of the Easter Weekend in Jamaica, from a SKN perspective, reinforces my view about the need to deliberately identify a core group of athletes and concentrate attention on them with opportunities to afford access into this core group by other athletes who demonstrate subsequent superlative standards/performances but were not originally part of that core group.

It takes approximately 8 years(minimum)–barring the exceptional- to produce a world class athlete. This is a rule of thumb that we should take on board.

Athletes who perform at the level we just witnessed by Jermahd are more likely than not to have graduated through the respective Primary & Secondary School Programmes, the Development Meet Schedule. This factor must not be understimated, undervalued.

Congratulations, once again, are extended, on my personal behalf, and on behalf of the SKNOC-CGA. May the performances of provide the shot in the arm, the inspiration that local Track and Field requires.

The full delegation reads:

Management:

1. Azariah Vanterpool – Head of delegation
2. Lester Morris – Coach

Players:

1. Jamal Sutton
2. Abidjan Woodley
3. Clifford Samuel
4. Kadeem Govia
5. Leroy Wilkinson
6. George Evans Gaton
7. Mudassa Howe
8. Talbert Warner Jr

The SKNHBA recognizes and publicly thanks the St Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee (SKNOC) and the Ministry of Sports for their generous donations without which this endeavor would not be possible.

I have just received news of the sudden passing of Desai Williams, a noted son of the soil, who represented his adopted home, Canada, at numerous International Track and Field Competitions, including the World Athletic Championship and Olympic Games.

We would recall local efforts at collaborating with Desai Williams who sought ways to give back to his native country and chose the route of conducting training sessions with Canadian athletes he coached at the Kim Collins Stadium. At these sessions, there were always opportunities for local athletes and coaches to be involved and integrated.

On behalf of our Olympic and Commonwealth Games Family, I extend condolences to his immediate family, including his dear brother, Asquith, the members of the SKN Diaspora in North America to whom he was closely associated and the wider athletic family.

A. E Bridgewater, C.S.M.
President, SKNOC-CGA

1. increasing the number of ranked athletes/players/teams per sport qualifying for the various Games under the SKNOC’s mandate leading up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games;
2. increasing the number of qualifiers in World and or Continental events leading up to the Games, and;
3. increasing its participation in the number of sports at world and continental championships leading up to the Games.

Only recently afforded the freedom to travel more liberally and train under less Covid-restricted protocols, athletes, officials and administrators, alike, would be breathing a sigh of relief. Hence, in an effort to provide the athletes/players with the much-needed, high-level competitions and training, prior to their possible selection, the SKNOC-CGA has fully committed itself to facilitating the preparation and qualification process for the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) Caribbean Games slated for the island of Guadeloupe over the period June 29th to July 3rd, 2022 and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games (B2022) that will be held July 28th to August 8th, 2022.

In preparation of the above, the Men’s Beach Volleyball pair of St. Clair Hodge and Shawn Seabrookes was provided financial assistance in the tune of E.C $15,000.00 to travel to Brazil from March 13th to 20th, 2022, to undergo a series of focused and intensive training under the supervision of an international coach/trainer Carlos de Campos Moraes.

While focusing on the logistical side of preparation, a Member of the SKNOC Games Preparation Committee, Mr. Lester Hanley is presently visiting Birmingham, England, on an inquiry mission. While there, he, along with several other representatives from other nations will be checking on the readiness of Birmingham to host the Games. One of the major aims of the visit is to ensure that the athletes will be most comfortable and well taken care of while at the B2022 Games. As a result, Mr. Hanley will be looking into things like accommodation, logistics of accommodation and event facilities and the facilities themselves. In addition, Mr. Hanley’s visit will gather information on the nuances of travel, Covid-19 protocols, and the finer details and rules of the various competitions.

Similarly, Mr. Lonzo Wilkinson, has been appointed as the Chef de Mission for the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) Caribbean Games and will be travelling to Guadeloupe over the period March 31st to April 3rd, 2022, to attend the Chef de Mission meeting for those Games.

The SKNOC-CGA is preparing to send a contingent comprising two sporting disciplines namely: Track and Field and Beach Volleyball to the B2022 Games; and the sport of Track and Field/Athletics to the Guadeloupe Caribbean Games.

“The timing could not be better”, continued President Bridgewater,  “as we are less than 3 months out from the staging of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games (July-August 8th 2022), and, one week since the celebration of International Women’s Day. The Commonwealth Games Family could celebrate Commonwealth Day 2022 proud of its commitment to gender equality by virtue of the parity in male and female participation at the Games and the allocation of medal events across genders; by vurtue of its epoch-defining policy position regarding athletes’ advocacy at the podium and during Games time; by virtue of its administrative, organizational and leadership performance to arrive at the stage it is with regards to the hosting of the 2022 Birmingham Games, despite the challenges posed by Covid, the packed sports calendar and more latterly, the Russian-Ukranian Crisis”.

A blessed, peaceful and safe Commonwealth Day to one and all!

A. E. Bridgewater, 
C.S.M.President, CGA/SKN

In acknowledgement of International Women’s Day on March 8th, the Women in Sport Commission of the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee is sending special greetings to all the women and girls of our Federation. Happy International Women’s Day.

The International Women’s Day theme for 2022 is #BreakTheBias. SKNOC President, Alphonso Bridgewater, emphasized, that, “this theme seeks to encourage actions towards building a world that is more equitable and inclusive”. He continued, “we call on everyone to join in the move to push for non-discrimination and equal representation at the decision making tables”.

In specific alignment with this theme, we recognize and celebrate the elected female executives of our National Sports Associations. Let us rally behind these progressive ladies as they continue to positively impact our Federation with their meaningful contributions at the decision making table and by making their voices heard.

According to the Chairperson of the Women in Sport Committee, Jennifer Nero, “When women and men are equally empowered the entire community benefits. Together we can create a gender equal Federation by committing to #BreakTheBias.”

Amya Clarke was first of the two Track and Field Athletes of TEAM SKN to taste action at the Pan-American Junior Games, Cali, Columbia.

She participated in the third of three Heats from which the top two athletes from each Heat and the next best two times will qualify for tomorrow’s final showdown in the Female 100 meters.

Amya led her Heat from start to finish in a fairly confident demonstration of execution which suggested that she may have, indeed, benefited from the exposure she received by virtue of her participation in the Tokyo Olympics earlier this year.

I am sure that Amya will be the first to admit that she will not be raking anything for granted as she strive for even closer perfection by tomorrow.

She will certainly need her A Game to un-nerve Cuban and Brazilian athletes who also prove that they could be a force to reckon with.

Whilst Amya seemed not to be unduly pushed to top her Heat and put down a 11:56 sec.- some  04 sec off her best time going into the event, it appeared that she is capable of stepping up another gear.

See attached below, the results of each Heat and the Table indicating the entire list/ranking of all the athletes.

You should note that only the top eight (8) will quality for tomorrow’s finals.

Congratulations to Amya thus far. She has laid down a marker to inspire  her team-mate Tah’j Liburd who runs in the second  of two semifinals at about 5:15 pm SKN Time) tomorrow in the 400 Meters.