One cannot help but praise Sports Minister Charles Ramson Jr., even though some will argue that it is much too soon.
However, it is safe to say that the subject minister for sports has started off on the right foot with respect to his governance of the existing sports landscape.
He has not only been forthcoming with the media (although regular press conferences where the media can ask questions would be welcome) but he has met with the national sports associations/federations and plans to meet with them again.
He has managed to get the stay of execution against some aspects of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act lifted, and seems more than willing and able to resolve that sordid mess that his predecessors were either unwilling or unable to tackle.
He has also indicated that shortly the naming of the members of the National Sports Commission and the Director of Sport will be done.
All of this is in direct contrast to what took place previously.
Going forward, however, the minister will have his work cut out for him as some sports associations operate as if they are a law unto themselves.
If past reports are to be believed then it will be safe to say that Ramson Jr., will be faced with the same issues as his predecessors.
While some sports associations are not too shy about requesting funding from government for teams to participate in international competitions regionally and further afield, some are not too keen on satisfying the principles of good governance which is the execution of the decision making process of an organization namely by the executive.
Good governance is when an organization is upfront about its rules and policies and is transparent and responsible.
Sports associations that eschew good governance, communicate freely with the media and with its affiliates/subordinates about its strategic goals and direction.
In Guyana, the lack of accountability over the selection processes and finances are some of the issues that the associations/federations are wont to address.
Some of these sports associations/ federations take refuge in the fact that some international federations such as FIFA, frown upon government interference making it difficult for the government, or the courts for that matter, to get involved.
In fact, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has for years turned a blind eye to the situation in Guyana which saw controversy over the Guyana and the Demerara Cricket Board elections and was not too enamoured with the efforts of the then PPP/C government, who had tasked former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd with the responsibility of heading an Interim Management Committee which ultimately led to the GCAA.
Another case in point is the fact that FIFA only recently slapped a ban on the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) for having the temerity to challenge FIFA’s right to remove a democratically elected federation and replace it with a Normalisation Committee and for refusing to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration in Switzerland opting for the matter to be tried in Trinidad.
So while the ministry responsible for sport is supposed to have jurisdiction over the local associations and should have responsibility over the welfare, promotion and proper administration of sport in Guyana that is not always the case.
It is all well and good that minister Ramson Jr., will meet with the associations to chart the way forward, but how the government deals with issues of poor governance of sports associations going forward will be key.
Will the associations be answerable to the government or will the associations say that they need only satisfy their world governing body for their stewardship of the game locally?
Also what is the situation with those associations/federations that have not held elections because of the coronavirus pandemic?
Will Minister Ramson Jr., still meet with them?
The ball is in your court Minister Ramson Jr.
