By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 1st May 2020) — The 62nd annual Basil Henderson Easter Monday Aquatic Sports Meet was slated to take place on Monday 13th April 2020 at the Ferry Terminal in Basseterre at 9:00 AM. Like other events, however, it was cancelled due to curfew and safety restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Event coordinator Winston ‘Zack’ Nisbett, keeper of the Zack’s Historical-Cultural Library and Museum, revealed he is glad for the ‘stay at home’ breaks. “The curfew period has been good and bad thing but more so good. I have gotten the chance to get some much needed work done including house work, educational, motivational compilation and also, the book on the aquatic sports years is almost there,” he shared.
He described the team’s state of readiness before cancellation: “We were more than prepared. In fact, the week before the pandemic got here, we were ready with new sponsorship as well as contenders from Nevis. Everything was in order; just for us to collect prizes.”
Nisbett praised the late Henderson as “a dynamic 4-Her in regard to community development and enhancement of positivity in the community” and said his forthcoming book will cover “the Basil Henderson era” and what the waterfront was like in those times.
“I have never seen anything like this; it’s catastrophic. At this time, however, this pandemic gives us a chance to pray, to go on our knees and thank the Father for having us alive when we look at other places around the world with over 60,000 deaths, we are grateful not to have any deaths here,” Nisbett remarked.