Government’s abysmal approach to sport development
Last December the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines brought before the nation’s Parliament the Estimates for 2023. Earlier this week we had the Budget Presentation by the Hon. Minister of Finance, Camilo Gonsalves.
While estimates are indeed, just that, a declaration of the government’s financial plans for the particular year, we are living in a country where the once-vaunted consultative democracy has been somehow stillborn.
Vincentians have come to an understanding that political parties, while in Opposition, seem confident that they can identify all of the shortcomings of the government of the day. However, once the tables turn and they assume government, they soon enough find a reason to ignore the vast majority of their promises to effect meaningful change and proceed with governance to suit their own pride and purposes.
The annual budgets under the current government, since 2001, have fallen well short of the expectations that those engaged in sport, would have had following the lofty ideals presented by the Unity Labour Party (ULP) for the general elections of 2001. For the aforementioned elections, the ULP produced two manifestos, one of which targeted the nation’s youths and highlighted much of what was being promised in the field of sport.
Significantly, while, just as previous governments have done, the ULP created facilities, there is nothing that it has done to facilitate the genuine development of sport. Instead, much like all of its predecessors, the ULP government, now over 21 years in office, can readily be accused of paying little more than lip service to the sport development process.
Consultative democracy in St Vincent and the Grenadines
As with sport so too with the issue of consultative democracy in our country. While much has been promised little has been provided, in respect of what should otherwise have been one of the critical pillars of democracy enshrined in this country’s political praxis.
The ULP manifesto of 2001 highlighted the importance of a consultative democracy in the development of this country. The party promised that once elected, in stark contrast to its predecessor in government, the New Democratic Party (NDP), it would establish a consultative democracy.
The promise excited the nation. The ascension to the government served to enhance the excitement of the benefits of a consultative democracy. Today, sadly, more than 21 years later, Vincentians still have to contend with a moribund political regime that seems incapable of explaining to the masses the reason for the veritable disappearance of the promise made in 2001.
In a recent editorial, dated 13 December 2022, the Searchlight newspaper stated, “A promising innovation was made by the Unity Labour Party administration after it took office in 2001, by deciding to somewhat democratize the process through pre-Budget consultations with various interest groups (private sector, trade unions, farmers, clergy and civil society). This was a most welcome development since, at least in theory, it permitted these interest groups to at least have some input in the formulation of the National Budget.
“But for one reason or another the consultative process deteriorated in both form and content over the years and began less and less to serve the original noble purpose. It is today a shadow not only of the modest original idea, but more so of the underlying objective itself. Given the current disposition, it is hard to call the Budget the product of a genuine consultative process.”
The promise of establishing a consultative democracy was not intended to be in place only with regard to the annual budget, but rather, all aspects of Vincentian governance. Unfortunately, the very concept of consultative democracy appears to have disappeared from the governance principles and practices in vogue in St Vincent and the Grenadines since 2001 when the ULP took office.
Another failed attempt at the consultative process was that initiated to facilitate the gun amnesty, in 2001. Nobody besides Vincent Beache, then Minister of National Security and Police Commissioner Harry, appeared to have taken an interest. Nothing has happened with this since it was summarily abandoned.
More recently, only after the people of North Leeward protested the commencement of the quarry in their area did the government rush to meet with them, indicating that this was the first in a series of consultations. Laughable, at best.
In the area of sport, the government has not been particularly keen on engaging stakeholders in consultations relative to the role of this aspect of nation building and national development.
False assumptions abound
Analysis of the government’s approach to sport in this country over the past 21 years leaves one with a very clear understanding that the current administration is woefully deficient in its understanding of this aspect of life.
Perhaps, we can blame the annoying legacy of colonisation for the retrograde approach of the current and previous administrations. For them it appears that sport is frivolity. They perceive sport as facilitating a series of ‘good feeling’ moments for the society and nothing more.
Since taking office government allowed for revision of the National Sports Policy (crafted by the National Olympic Committee in 1996 and 1997, after a series of consultations with stakeholders – national sports associations, sport journalists, clubs and teams, athletes and administrators, technical officials, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and government ministries, with administrative guidance from Canada’s Colin Higgs, who was at the time based in Barbados as the regional lead on the Commonwealth Sport Development Programmes [CSDP]). This process led to minimal changes in the main document.
There is significant lack of clarity as to precisely what today constitutes the fundamental approach of the government to sport. At present, sport is still not perceived and understood to be an important pillar of national development.
There is no consultation undertaken with stakeholders by the government. Several attempts at creating some sort of tripartite institution to discuss sport faltered after attendees realised that meetings were convened without any sort of deliberate scheduling and that the content was always a regurgitation of issues that have long since been on successive agendas but never really completed.
Ministerial appointments
From inception, the ministerial appointments to lead ministries of sport have been decidedly poor. Those appointed have even lacked the capacity to surround themselves with personnel who have equipped themselves through education and experience, to advise, guide and serve. This is not the norm in the country.
Ministers have not yet wisened to the fact that having capable advisors and employees around them, allowed to apply their expertise in sport, makes them look good, overall. But the anxiety to showboat and exercise their false sense of power, so confuses them that all falls apart.
There is no noteworthy legacy that the government can boast of in respect of sport and development in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Appreciating sporting successes
Then there is the pathetic displays of interest and commitment when a national representative is successful at the regional and international levels. Government hastens to reach out to national sports associations involved to hastily organise airport receptions, merely for photo shoots and the placid declarations of congratulations on achievements.
The foregoing activities are so bereft of planning that on one occasion at the new Argyle International Airport, the athletes and team management were whisked to the VIP lounge directly from the plane. Ceremony completed, the Minister and authorities left and the team had a harrowing time getting inside the Arrivals Hall to collect their luggage. They were treated as if in deliberate breach of security protocols. No governmental authority had notified the Immigration and Customs authorities at the airport.
Last year, there was a ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence for the Carifta medallists and accompanying teammates. Patrons thought the focus would have been on the achievements of the athletes. Instead, and in stark contrast, much of the ‘talk’ was on the leadership of the successful national sports associations. Athletes, parents and coaches delt embarrassed since the event appeared more political than sporting.
Ambassadors
One would have thought that if the government really wanted a sports ambassador programme to be established that there would have been a consultative process with appropriately qualified persons leading the operations.
No such thing!
Nobody in sport seems to know the policy regarding the designation and appointment of sport ambassadors. Similarly, there is no existing sport ambassador who has any documentation in respect of precisely what being a Vincentian sports ambassador means and what is therefore expected of them.
There is nothing aspirational attendant to the designation of a Vincentian sports ambassador.
Gailene Winsdor was a sport ambassador. She died. There was noting that differentiated her since her appointment through to her death from any other sports personality in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Sport and Development
Sport is much more than about our athletes winning medals or making regional and international teams.
Sport tourism is a fast growing aspect of national economies around the world. We do not seem to even begin to understand the concept.
In building hotels, for example, there are no consultation with sports associations. At the same time, however, international federations have very clear requirements for hotel accommodation for athletes, technical officials and administrators in countries hosting their Championships.
This may well have been one of the factors that has caused SVG not to receive appropriate consideration for the hosting of international cricket tours.
For all of the years of boasting of the idyllic beauty of SVG and especially of the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground, the absence of an electronic scoreboard, in this period of sporting advancement, leaves us lagging behind and the laughing stock of the cricketing world.
Our government leaders and ministers traipse the world, many benefitting from global exposure in a manner they always dreamed of but never thought they would have, fail to have those experiences impact their decision-making. They remain awe-struck, being able to tell stories to family and friends about those international experiences, while doing absolutely nothing to change our status amongst sporting nations of the world.
