Keith Joseph Warns Against Rising Militarisation in the Caribbean

NEW YORK, October 19, 2025 - President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), Keith Joseph, has expressed deep concern about the increasing militarisation of the Caribbean, warning that it threatens the region’s long-held aspiration to remain a zone of peace and undermines the social environment in which athletes live and compete.

Speaking on the weekly TalkSports programme on Saturday, Joseph said that sport cannot thrive in societies overshadowed by fear, instability, or aggression. He called on regional leaders and sporting bodies to champion peace and human rights, emphasising that athletes and sports administrators have a duty to advocate for a safe and healthy environment.

“For donkey years, we’ve been talking about the Caribbean as a zone of peace,” Joseph said. “Right now, it’s increasingly less so — and that is something we need to advocate for. Our athletes live in this environment, and they need a healthy and safe space to grow.”

He stressed that the concept of ‘safe sport’ goes far beyond doping control and discrimination policies. It also includes ensuring that athletes live in secure, just, and inclusive societies.

“Safe sport is not only freedom from drugs or avoiding discrimination,” Joseph explained. “It’s about being part of a society where athletes can live, train, and compete in safety and dignity.”

Joseph said that athletes are more than competitors — they are leaders and role models who should use their voices to promote peace, justice, and social responsibility.

“Our sportspeople are leaders,” he said. “They need to be exemplary in their behaviour and conduct, but also in speaking out against wrong. That’s why we talk about human rights and the well-being of our peoples. It’s our right as Caribbean citizens, and we should not be afraid to speak about it.”

He acknowledged that taking a stand on social issues often comes with personal risk, citing historical examples such as Muhammad Ali, whose activism transcended sport.

“Yes, when you speak out, there may be consequences — and we saw that with Muhammad Ali and others,” Joseph noted. “But at the end of the day, you must satisfy yourself that you have a responsibility to the people around you, to your community, and to the schools and environments that shaped you.”

Joseph concluded by urging athletes, administrators, and the wider society to remain engaged in protecting the moral and social integrity of the Caribbean.

“We cannot alienate ourselves from our communities or societies,” he said. “We must remain deep within them — loving them, caring for them, and speaking out against any wrong that comes against them.”