For many public figures, success in politics often traces back to formative lessons learned outside of government chambers — and for sitting Senator Shaquan O’Neil, that foundation was built on the cricket pitch. This week, O’Neil returned to his athletic roots to make a personal donation to A Chance to Shine Academy, the youth cricket development program that he says molded his early growth both as an athlete and as a leader.
Before O’Neil launched his career in public service, the academy gave him the structured support and mentorship that shaped many of the core values he carries with him in office today. That guidance came largely from Abdiel Hughes, O’Neil’s childhood coach, who the senator credits as being a foundational influence on his early cricketing and personal journey. Hughes did not only teach O’Neil the rules of the sport; he nurtured his talent enough to help him climb the ranks of regional and national youth cricket, earning O’Neil spots on both the Leeward Islands Under-15 squad and Antigua and Barbuda’s Under-15 and Under-17 national teams.
During an in-person visit to the academy’s facilities, O’Neil formally presented his donation to Hughes alongside the program’s current cohort of young, aspiring cricketers. In remarks to the group, he highlighted Hughes’ ongoing commitment to investing his time, expertise and energy into nurturing the next generation of Caribbean cricket talent, while also building leadership skills that extend far beyond the boundary ropes. For O’Neil, the donation is far more than a charitable gesture: it is a full-circle act of gratitude to the organization and mentor that set him on the path to success.