Saboto Caesar, Agriculture Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines had harsh words for the private sector, which includes television and internet providers as well as the SVGFF (St. Vincent Football Federation), on Saturday, December 10.
Caesar, who was livid, told the St. Vincent Times that in 2022, a wide cross-section of the population is being denied the opportunity to view the World Cup, which is currently taking place this time around in the gulf state of Qatar.
Caesar slammed cable and internet providers in the interview, saying that in the 1980s and 1990s, people could watch the World Cup on black-and-white TV with antennas, but in 2022, only a privilege a few could afford.
He said the SVGFF has failed youngsters who are deeply interested in the game, saying that the organisation did not make a good representation of itself in working with the providers to ensure that every Vincentian could see the games.
“You have adults who have to watch the game two days later or all kinds of different pieces.” “You know what really broke my heart when I was in an area and I saw about ten children in a room watching the games, and after a minute of watching what they were watching, I realised it was a simulated game, and they think they’re watching the real World Cup?
The first African nation to reach the semi-finals was a game between Morocco and Portugal, and while those who have it are jumping up and down, those who don’t have it can’t say they saw the game.
It’s inconsiderate, totally inconsiderate, and the private sector in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Football Federation really should come out and do something to make sure that we see the semifinal games and the finals.” “It’s a shame and a disgrace.
As a child, I grew up watching football on a black-and-white TV with an antenna. “This is 2022, and you cannot get to watch it; we have to call these people out.” I am going to mobilise. If they don’t put it on TV, I’m going to mobilise my constituency and find some places in South Central Windward for people to watch the game”.
