“Contributed”
The memory of a visit made in 1970 followed me to St. Andrew’s School about 1972.
After two efforts to convince all of them, as one of them was opposed to the idea, principals of San Ignacio, Santa Elena and Esperanza primary schools agreed to the suggestion of having an all-day sports meet for the children of their schools on the last day of Education Week.
In 1970, on a visit to a school in Victoria (Texas), a very “disruptive” situation was observed, with hardly any student being in a “normal” class setting. Almost all were rushing to their auditorium. It was explained that of late the Administration had noticed that the student body had shown signs of restlessness, bordering on imminent chaos. And so, to prevent a problem, the students were assembling at their auditorium, where they were given the opportunity to sing and dance and jump and speak – whatever would help them to rid themselves of their excess energy.
And this is what the principals at the time were being encouraged to do – to have their children meet at least once a year in friendly but disciplined competition outside of their normal, sheltered surroundings, where they would be able to meet and interact with their peers from different schools and backgrounds.
The initial opposition to the idea was that this was a waste of time, that children would be losing out on their education, that they would be in the hot sun for one whole day.
As soon as the initiators of the idea got the green light, work began. At a meeting at Santa Elena School, the movement was named CAPSAA, which stood for Cayo Primary Schools Athletic Association. Ted Cox, a Peace Corps volunteer, was introduced to the organizers, and he guided CAPSAA in its first baby steps. Leopoldo Waight, then District Commissioner or Officer, came on board, and he lent the weight of his high office to the effort. Then there was Area Representative and Minister Hector D. Silva who also lent his support to the cause. Also assisting to put together the first meet at the Norman Broaster Stadium were Sergeant of Police Vernon and activist Teodosio Ochoa.
As from before its beginnings, there were critics who did not find it wise or sensible to assist an organization that would have school children out of their school in the hot sun for one full day. When a big landowner was approached for whatever kind of help he could give, he did not hesitate to say that if the people involved were seeking help to build a church, he would gladly assist, but not for the purpose help was being sought for.
The initial CAPSAA programme included the popular, traditional events such as lime and spoon, sack race, needle and thread, etc., as well as 60 meter, 100 meter and the ever popular relay race and high jump; but not too long after 1972, it became a more athletic type meet. And yes, boys and girls participated.
CAPSAA was greatly assisted and encouraged by Ministry of Education officials (Roy Cayetano and Dave Cruz come to mind), San Ignacio Town Board/Council, Public Works Department, Red Cross, Survey Department, Police Department and Belize Defence Force, Bowen and Bowen, as well as local managers of schools and the British Army.
The motto of CAPSAA, appropriately, was: A Healthy Mind – A Healthy Body.
Some controversy arose at the beginning, when the idea of inviting the Listowel boys was discussed. The reasons varied, but at the end, the proponents of inclusion prevailed. CAPSAA could not be discriminating.
CAPSAA enjoyed the support of Ministers Musa, Shoman, Waight, Aragon, Aikman, Campos, and the unconditional cooperation of Fred Evans, Bev Swasey, Simeon Lopez, the team that accompanied Fred Evans to San Ignacio most of the years to serve as officials, as well as our own locals – Elias Awe, Olid Alvarado, Lilia Zaiden and the great Eric “Ricos” Smith, in addition to priests, doctors and education officers.
The inviting of VIPs to serve as officials was deliberate, even if it went unnoticed by those to whom it mattered the most. The fact that they, too, would spend the day in the hot sun meant that the meet was important to them.
And then, in September of 1988/89, a principal sought the opinion of a senior Ministry of Education official as to the view held by the Ministry of Education with regard to CAPSAA. Quite dishonestly, he said he did not know. And this in spite of the presence and support received from Ministers and other heavyweight individuals.
And that sounded the death knell for CAPSAA.
In quiet moments with Roy Cayetano, the idea of having every district having its PSAA was discussed. Imagine COPSAA in Corozal, OWPSAA in Orange Walk, BEPSAA in Belize, STAPSAA in Stann Creek, and TOPSAA in Toledo. And then the different entities having their own “regionals,” and then having a national meet with the best from all districts.
We may have done better in Scotland!
After a few years conducting the track and field meet at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio, for very valid reasons given by the guardians of the stadium, CAPSAA found a permanent home at the Victor Galvez Stadium, also in San Ignacio.
As a result of the very successful first meet, other district schools were invited to participate. The meet became a sports festival for our school children. They came from as far as Valley of Peace, Hershey, Belmopan, Roaring Creek R.C. and Nazarene, Unitedvillle, Blackman Eddy, Teakettle, Georgeville, Listowel Boys Training School in Baking Pot, Cristo Rey and San Antonio, Augustine in the Mountain Pine Ridge, Bullet Tree Falls and Santa Familia. For some years, Benque and Succotz schools also participated.
Hundreds will remember the colour and the beauty, the joy and the excitement, the discipline and the order that reigned during the meets.
Unvoiced was the unwritten objective of CAPSAA, to have children who would be their schools’ heroes, as they would shine for their schools on the track, something they were not able to do academically.
Seeking more sports challenges, CAPSAA also organized softball and football tournaments among the schools. It was the most beautiful sight to behold on many Friday afternoons – Cayo children and their teachers and coaches criss-crossing the district, as they travelled to fulfill a sporting commitment in town or in a village.
When CAPSAA departed the sports stage, discussions were going on with Sgt. Major Cacho of the BDF in pursuit of including swimming as yet another wholesome, character building event among the others.
