By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Tuesday 3rd April 2018) – While the Event Coordinator of the yearly Basil Henderson Easter Monday Aquatic Sports Meet, Winston ‘Zack’ Nisbett, is basking in the success of yesterday’s 60th annual event, he is addressing a concern with regard to lack of gift gratitude displayed by some participants over the years including some winners.
Yesterday, scores of participants and onlookers gathered at the Ferry Terminal in Basseterre for the yearly outdoorsy occasion which included various swim races, the looked-forward to money and ham greasy pole competitions as well as the boxing exhibition.
Speaking with reporters-including this media house- right after the event, Nisbett stated: “I think it was very successful. We had a wonderful time today and it only goes well for future development. This 60th anniversary was successful. I think the people enjoyed themselves. The whole cohesiveness of everything and most of all throughout, the prizes.”
Included on the prize list were a weed eater, hair cutting sets, a radio, cases of drinks, cases of water and St.Kitts-Nevis patriotic t-shirts. Gold medals were also presented to the top competitors.
At the time of the interview, Nisbett informed that most of the prizes were distributed noting that the remaining set were for the boxing exhibition, the final activity.
According to him “Those persons who gave I’m sure they feel good within their hearts that they went in the right direction. So this is a big thing and it is going to get better next year.”
He informed that about 40 swimmers took part overall. Both males and females took part in junior and senior categories.
“We made sure the swimmers enjoyed the prizes which was important. I know you saw the volume of good prizes here-good prizes-almost everything gone.”
Responding to this reporter, he shared that the estimated collective cost of the gifts is EC$20, 000.
Additionally when asked about the negative attitude displayed by some of the gift recipients, he remarked: “Those I think are greedy people who are making noise because sometimes they are only supposed to get one prize but we end of giving them two and three just to get the prizes finished so we think some of them are a bit disingenuous but apart from that I think everything went down ok to me.”
Nisbett talked about the openness and quickness of the prize giving ceremony happening on the same day of the event.
“Nowhere else, you see gifts giving out so transparently. You see the volume of gifts we have here today? Everyone has gone home with their gifts. This is better than other organisations because whereas with the others where you have to wait for your gifts, here is a different entity because you see people going home with their gifts they have own their gifts and have gone home with them, all sorts of gifts.”
Nisbett has expressed heartfelt appreciation to all event participants, volunteers and spectators as well as members of the business community sponsors and partners, security personnel like the police and coast guard who helped in ensuring the event was successful for yet another year.