Dear Editor,
Reading the comment on my previous letter on hopelessness among some of the youths in Guyana, I felt compelled to re-look at the PPP 2006 manifesto and its programmes for ‘Developing Sports and Culture’ – page 26 to be exact – since I firmly believe Sport and Culture are among the tools we can use to also address this hopelessness that is eating away at our societal fabric
It is also imperative that I make it clear for the detractors of the PPP, this is not PPP bashing, this is soul searching so they should not try to use my letters to grind their own axes. It is the duty of all citizens to keep reminding government leaders of their contract with the people, since it is human to stray from our core values as we get accustomed to an alien lifestyle under the floodlights of public office.
I must remind readers that this current term is almost 65% complete, and most of these promises should be above the 50% mark at this juncture of the current term of office. This is what is said in the manifesto under the caption ‘Developing Sports and Culture’:
“We will provide increasing support for the development of all sports disciplines throughout the country. We will:
“• Build three multi-purpose sports complexes in Berbice, Essequibo and Linden, as well as other facilities countrywide [5% on target, just talk and more talk].
“• Create a Sports Development Fund with at least $100M per annum [0% – not done].
“• Increase support for National Sports Teams [from my reading the Minister has actively pursued this target – very much on target, well done].
“• Develop comprehensive programmes for sports and physical education in schools [Do NA and Anna Regina Multilateral Schools have a comprehensive sport and PE programme? Is the picture becoming clear now?]
“• Expand coaching programmes in various disciplines [The operative word here is expand, not only cricket but swimming and badminton and all the other under-represented sports. Not 50% there even though some efforts are being made].
“• Support strengthening of club structures [If there is anything we can learn from the Cubans, it is that we must set up the youth brigade. Is there an active Cane Grove Sports Club? Get what I mean?].
“• Support development of national sports associations [from my reading the Minister has actively pursued this target – very much on target, well done].
“• Develop necessary sports facilities with special consideration given to synthetic track for athletics, a velodrome for cycling and an Olympic size swimming pool [Velodrome – what veledrome? Synthetic tacks – in Jamaica I suppose. Pool – designs in progress and a hole was dug in the ground and that is it. This is one the press has a duty to thoroughly investigate. Why is this project not moving? When will it start moving? Who is responsible for this sloth? I call on all Guyanese to let their voices be heard on this pool so that our young people can have a facility that is long overdue].
“• Increase focus on regional sports development programmes in various disciplines in all regions [whatever this means, no comments].
“• Promote sports tourism, building on the impact of Cricket World Cup 2007 [not done, the closest to this is the DJ Stress events at the National Stadium].”
“We will strengthen measures to promote the rich multi-cultural diversity of Guyana and utilise culture to promote harmony among people. More will be spent on:
“• Providing opportunities for our writers, musicians, artistes, actors, dancers and others to develop their talents [well done, fully delivered].
“• Research and documentation into various aspects of culture with resulting publications [no comments].
“• The new National Archives will improve the opportunity for research and the promotion of greater awareness of our history [well done, fully delivered].”
Do the facts speak for themselves?
I have worked the Dr Frank Anthony in the past and I have seen his passion for youth issues and I still believe he cares for the youths of Guyana. That is why I am in logical dilemma in understanding why his deliverables score card is the way it is. What I do know is, if the money is not in the National Budget, he is helpless, so the pertinent question really is, were his programmes adequately funded? For me, the PPP Manifesto is a living document and it has to be delivered, come hell or high water and there is no better time than now for all the policy-makers in Guyana to revisit this document to assess their deliverable score cards with a view to moving it up the ladder.
I have read Minister Anthony’s budget contribution in 2007 under the headline ‘Vision 2011 for Sports.’ He promised to start the first phase of that 50-metre Olympic pool in 2007. It is now almost mid-2009 and I am not convinced there is adequate justification for the first phase remaining incomplete. He also promised to start preliminary works on the multi-purpose sports complexes in 2007 but 2 years after we still have ‘wind paddy in our hands.’ Further there was a promise to start a new programme called ‘Sports for Development,’ but where is that programme today?
The PPP signed that contract with the people in the last elections. The PPP committed to deliver on these promises if the people voted for them. The majority of the people voted for them and now at the halfway mark, there are many significant gaps in delivery. Sport is a tried and tested methodology for motivating youths away from crime and suicide. Unlike the government spin doctor, I am more focused, not on the infected, but the wider youth population who are on the verge of being infected with this disease called crime and suicide because this is where I think maximum impact can be made.
Come on chaps, we have 2 more years, complete that swimming pool, build those multi-purpose sports complexes, at least drive the piles for the velodrome, and most importantly, develop programmes for the softer issues like strengthening the school sport programme, and use that stadium for some real sports tourism. These measures can go a long way in keeping the Fine Men of Guyana away from the guns and the youths away from the poison bottles; it is not too late. There is a legacy to be built if we are interested. I am so far away from Guyana and yet I feel excited by the prospect of these developments, thus I am amazed that these development opportunities are not being pursued with more vigour from those much closer to the action. What is distracting them?
I know there is one man who never forgot his purpose, who never got confused by the glitter of public office. He lived for the people and he died for the people – Dr Jagan.
Yours faithfully,
Sasenarine Singh
