Ole George and Joel Butcher – Heroes or Villains?

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It should be noted that in preparation for this record-breaking performance George and Butcher walked in Grenada, St Lucia, Canouan and Bequia, earlier in the year.

The future
2009 will witness the culmination of the walks undertaken by George and Butcher. They will not be seeking to break any record since they have already done that several times over. Instead, they will walk for one and a half days in St Vincent and will pay special tribute to a young girl with great determination and
who has been inspired by them enough to have insisted with her father that they join them in their walk in 2007 when she was just five years old – Krishnel Rodgers.
The 2009 walk would bring the curtains down on a great moment in Vincentian history, leaving a legacy that would stand the test of time.

Conclusion
Perhaps it is a case of us, as a Vincentians people, simply losing the art of caring and understanding what it is to love others and give credit where it is really due. In many respects we have watched our nation fall apart. We have overseen the demise of our once treasured values.
In reality we have failed George and Butcher.
We have devalued their achievements by our insensitivity.
The achievements of George and Butcher has not stirred anyone in the Tourism Department nor in the Heritage arena to action. It has perhaps done even less to those responsible for the government’s focus on sport.
The concept of sports tourism is part of the ole talk syndrome that seems characteristic of successive governments in this country.
It will be a very sad day for St Vincent and the Grenadines when we bring the curtains down on the remarkable achievements of two generous sons of the soil – Earl ‘Ole George’ Daniel and Joel Butcher.
Perhaps it is their destiny and their character that they should remain hidden in the crevices of an increasingly uncaring nation.