Dear Editor,
I have been involved in Sports since 1970, first as a participant in football, athletics, cricket and volleyball, just to name a few, and then as a sports administrator/organizer, etc. I was/is part of athletics, football, and netball administration and attended numerous courses, seminars, workshops, planning programmes on sport.
During that time we had many sports ministers, all with bright and wise ideas, good prospects and many blueprints. There were numerous stadium plans which I hope are tucked away somewhere in the National Archives. We had a President digging soil in Diamond; we had a buy-a-brick programme, we had a North Korean blueprint, we had a Sophia stadium site and so much more, but we are still waiting.
I say this to say that sport in Guyana is not going anywhere; instead of us progressing we are only regressing. Is there evidence to prove me wrong? If so, show me.
The Beijing Olympics has just ended and Guyana’s performance was miserable, no disrespect to the handful of athletes who participated. I imagine what the likes of James Wren Gilkes, June Griffith, Anthony October, Oliver Alves, Jennifer Inniss, Gordon and Nigel Lewis, Dennis Collison, Aubrey ‘Skinny’ Wilson, just to name a few, are saying about Guyana’s pathetic performance in athletics, and the likes of Winfield Braithwaite, Brian Muller, Reginald Forde, Kenny Bristol, Patrick Forde, Darrius Forde, Michael Parris, the late Cleveland Denny and Mark Harris are saying of our non-attendance at these games. Then there is Aubrey Gordon, Neville Hunte, Eon Dornellius in cycling. Sir, when these athletes, boxers and cyclists used to represent us they were doing so in ‘ancient’ times, and in this modern day and age we are struggling to qualify, much leas participate.
Guyana needs a resurgence in sport and sports administration. Sir, I am demanding that the government do something quick before Guyana becomes the whipping boy and girl in the Caribbean. We urgently need proper sports’ facilities now, not next year but now. We have the land, so let the government allocate an area where the respective sports’ associations can be given a plot; it is our land, it is our people, it is our sports that are we waiting for. The Providence area is the ideal area that could be the sports centre for Guyana. A football field, an athletics track, a cycling velodrome, basketball, volleyball and netball courts could be built right around that area.
Is giving an association a grant every now and then sports’ development? – no. Is giving an association a tax exemption part of sports’ development? – no; that is the duty of the government.
Sir, I think the President of Guyana should revamp the Sports Department of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and have persons who are committed to developing sport be employed there and not politicize that area. Sport is serious business, and we are making sport with sports. Ask Usain Bolt and the other Jamaicans who train at home on an athletic track and not at an Eve Leary, YMCA or a National Park. The National Park has a 400 metre track; put a rubberized track there.
With proper facilities, I am confident that Guyana can do well in sport; we have the ability.
The Caribbean Games will be held in Trinidad & Tobago from July 13 to 19, 2009. Guyana has been invited to participate, and the events slated are track & field, boxing, netball, tennis and indoor and beach volleyball. I know that the associations are aware of this, and I ask if the Ministry of Sport is aware of this and whether any preparations have commenced as yet. Are there any plans to assist these associations, because these games are 11 months away. It is my view that Guyana should participate fully and enter all the events, but they have to start preparing now. I assume all the other countries are in preparation mode, but are we?
Mr President, Mr Minister of Sport, Mr President of the Guyana Olympic Association, put your full support behind the respective associations; they cannot do it alone, they need your support so that Guyana can do exceedingly well at these inaugural games.
I will be following progress in this regard and will be writing on other deficiencies in sport as they arise.
Yours faithfully,
Lawrence Griffith
Sports Administrator
