is not the result of Cricket West Indies, and if we wait for them to create any impact there, we will wait till thy kingdom come, and be in the same position we are in today. Not even governments in a country could control what happens at the grassroots level, and when they attempted to, abject failure was the result. The only people that could effect positive change at that level, are the community leaders, including youth leaders, teachers, professionals in the respective communities. If the grassroots fails, everything crumbles. What the state or the West Indies inherit is what the grassroots supplies to them. If that is poor quality, then the results would be so reflected. You have to bend a tree while it is young.

You see, the grassroots is a natural habitat, grounded in the villages and local communities. It manifest itself through villages, local clubs and organizations, schools etc. Natural leaders emerged over the generations, and manfully took up the tasks of organizing communities. In every community, there are only a few natural leaders that could take up the mantle and organize the community in sports, culture, everything. Community organizers came together, and created the opportunities for competition among neighbouring communities. Those rivalries were so important at the grassroots level. Notice, I did not mention politicians in this, because historically, community organizers did not need politicians to tell them what the community needed, and most community leaders kept the politics out of it. It was the community that decided what they needed, and their community leaders ensured that those things were provided through skillful lobbying. Governments' roles were to facilitate local demands according to community norms and demands. They provided fields and maintained them. Where possible, they built community centres. In some cases, those things were not available, so clubs were formed under somebody's house, on a stone on the side of the street, or under some tree. The main thing was that the community leaders took up their roles to ensure that things happened. The community leaders remained in their respective communities, and communities remained stable. Village clubs and structures remained stable , and quality products were produced. When the countries received the products, they were well prepared. When, WICB received the product, it was a product that needed just a little touch up. The quality was well prepared for combat.

Today, the young natural leaders whom the communities look up to, to take the lead, sadly, they have failed us. Many of them are sold to politicians for a price. When they do, they no longer do the bidding of the community. Others, at the first chance of success, in whatever field, they desert the local communities. Some of them leave the local communities. Even in instances where they remain in the local communities, they set up gates to isolate themselves, and only return to the community late at nights. The communities are filled with the same good potential, but leaderless. CWI can't fill that, neither any government. We did not prepare our children to take up that important role in our respective communities.

Will continue with this when I am in the mood.