Dear Editor,
It was indeed refreshing and heartening to note that two of our most esteemed Indigenous personalities, Honorable Minister of Amerindian Affairs and Dr George Norton, have agreed in principle that there should be consideration for scholarships for hinterland athletes (SN 6/3/08 “Aid to Amerindian communities for development not handouts – Rodrigues”).
For some time hinterland areas have been producing athletes of rare talent especially in athletics and football. However, due to geographical difficulties the majority of these athletes were unable to fulfil their potential.
Every year at the National Athletics hinterland athletes raise eyebrows with their performances in the middle and long distance events. It is during this time that comments emanate from the sports personalities about harnessing the talents of these athletes. Yet, a few weeks later when the hinterland athletes return to their homelands they become forgotten while their coastland counterparts are given the opportunity to further develop themselves. These hinterland talents eventually abandon their athletic ability and resign themselves to a life in the hinterland.
One wonders how much talent has been lost to this country because of the lack of initiative to implement a system whereby hinterland athletes could be given an opportunity to develop their abilities.
The idea of scholarships for hinterland athletes is a step in the right direction towards systematically harnessing our hinterland sports talent. It will provide the athlete with the opportunity to develop academically as well as athletically. It will also enable the athlete to see sports as an avenue for personal development. For the Rupununi Region, an ideal scholarship would be a position at the St Ignatius Secondary School. This school is positioned in proximity to Lethem and has facilities for proper accommodation, studies and training. Such a scholarship would enable a systematic and structured training of a group of athletes. There are also secondary schools in other hinterland regions and a similar structure could be applied.
Hinterland communities have been noted for a strong basic education. Most hinterland athletes will come with a basic education that can be easily upgraded to a secondary level or more. So, providing a scholarship to these athletes won’t necessarily mean that the quality of the Secondary School will be downgraded. On the contrary it may enhance the reputation of the school, especially if the athletes gain (inter)national recognition.
Honorable Minister of Amerindian Affairs, there may indeed have been no precedent with respect to scholarships for Amerindian athletes, but someone has to make the first move. Your leadership has been marked with strong decisions that have benefited the Amerindian People. Providing scholarships to Amerindian athletes would be another positive decision taken under your leadership which would reap numerous benefits, for both the athletes and the country.
I urge the honourable Ministers of Amerindian Affairs and Sports to give this idea of a Hinterland Sports Scholarship a chance. I would also suggest that a region be identified where a model can be developed. An ideal Region for such a model would be Region #9 (because of its history of producing high quality athletes) and the Secondary School should be St Ignatius Secondary School.
It is sincerely hoped that the impending consultation between Ministers Rodrigues and Anthony happens in the near future and, hopefully, something tangible happens for the new academic year.
Yours faithfully,
M Abraham
