Opposition Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, has accused the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport of abusing state resources and of political intervention in the affairs of sports associations/federations.
In a statement sent to this newspaper, Figueira, who also functions as Shadow Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, said that a press release from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Press Statement dated 6th December, was an affront to, and makes a mockery of democracy and violates international conventions which are based on governments’ non-intervention in sport.
Figueira, in the release, also criticized the actions of Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., and said that the PPP/C administration was using state resources to dominate and control sport organisations in Guyana.
“The APNU+AFC vehemently condemns attempts by Ramson to weaponize the use of state resources to settle political scores with citizens and thereby seek to dominate and control bodies that must be independent of government and all politics,” the release said.
Figueira contended that the statement should be a wakeup call to all other sports disciplines and administrators who must now see that the aim of the PPP/C is to control and dominate.
“Is the Minister comfortable with destroying the autonomy of sports associations and federations in Guyana?” Figueira asked.
“Is he aware that sport is one area of activity that unites our people and that his inept actions will destroy that unity that characterizes sport in Guyana over the years?”
“Is the Minister so partisan and insensitive that he cannot appreciate the positive role that sport plays in our society when there is good governance and political non-intervention in sport in our society?”
Figueira said that the minister must stop interfering in the workings of sports associations.
“Guyana cannot allow this infant sports minister to bring disorder to sport,” Figueira declared, and urged Ramson Jnr., to desist from interfering in sport.
“Let our sport associations and federations continue to be autonomous and govern themselves based on transparency, accountability and the rule of law and not based on the wishes of any political directorate.”
“The duly elected officials in football, athletics, basketball and all sports, must be allowed, in keeping with their rules and regulations, to discipline their members for participating in unsanctioned tournaments,” said Figueira adding that Ramson should keep the lawlessness out of sport.”
According to Figueira, the Minister of Sport’s authoritarian character is evident but is misplaced in sport in particular and in Guyana generally.
“He must know that sports organisations are governed by elected bodies and do not fall under the control of any minister. The APNU/AFC urges the Minister to curb his interventionist and authoritarian instincts,” charged Figueira.
“The APNU+AFC supports accountability in sport and wants to see the challenges in cricket resolved rationally, and with the involvement of all stake holders, and not by the demonizing of administrators or by the withholding of state resources to individual associations/federations. These different bodies have constitutions and rules; let their members exhaust them to the benefit of the sport.”
“We urge the de facto Minister to recognize that the role of the Ministry is to create an enabling environment for sport to flourish in Guyana and not domination and control.”
