Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport Charles Ramson Jr., disclosed that a conference was conducted yesterday with the 12 Core Sports of the National Sports Commission to discuss the establishment of a sound framework for travelling international teams.
This was disclosed during a post-meeting discourse with operatives of the media. According to Ramson Jr., the meeting focused on the important changes and requirements that will be employed for travelling national programmes, noting that the establishment of such a protocol and system was discussed at the previously staged sports conference.
He disclosed that several elements were discussed at the meeting which also included the Guyana Olympic Association and that the procedure will be enacted “to have government involvement and support for the core sports”, noting that the conceptualized framework will be utilized to ensure that the issues and mistakes of the past will not occur again to embarrass the nation.
Ramson Jr., was speaking of the recent intervention by the government to bring home this year’s CARIFTA Games athletes following the failure of the Athletics Association of Guyana to purchase tickets for the athletes.
He explained, “No one from anywhere in the world could be proud of that situation, and the changes we outline are important,” adding that in the absence of a comprehensive structure, “the problems will continue and without us taking a firm position, the country will continue to be embarrassed.”
According to Ramson Jr., the opportunity was afforded to the leadership of the core sports to state whether they agree or disagree with the proposed structure as well as to suggest any form of modification to the proposed framework, “which they did, and it showed the level of engagement on their part.”
Asked if a body or commission will be created to administer this impending structure, Ramson Jr., stated that while the creation of such an entity to manage the process was not discussed, the NSC has essentially functioned in a similar capacity by providing tangible support to the respective national teams despite not being afforded the courtesy of information, engagements, and post-event reports.
He declared, “The result of this is that we are blindsided for information and have to scour the newspapers and the media to see how they perform,” noting that the Ministry and the NSC have a strong commitment to the development of sport and that while the associations also have a commitment to its athletes, they have to understand the logic for change.
Ramson Jr., further stated that the recent Carifta Games fiasco was used as an example of the issues that plague travelling national programmes and why change is important.
According to Ramson Jr., whilst most national programmes don’t incur issues when travelling, scandals tend to emanate when they have concerns that require Government intervention though that shouldn’t occur at the 11th hour.
He revealed that the implementation of a checklist will need to be met before the acquisition of government support.
