Building on the first platform of "developing our people through sport," the second platform of the People's Partnership 2010 Manifesto (http://www.UNC-manifesto-2010.pdf p 48-49) focused on developing sport as a self-sustaining industry.
The key points highlighted to be achieved through this platform were as follows:
i. Facilitate research and development in sports science
ii. Develop a National Sport Policy with rewards and incentives based on meritocracy with reference to working documents laid in Parliament
iii. Enhance regional sporting events in such areas such as football, cricket, boxing, golf, swimming, fishing and auto racing to build tourism sport industry
iv. Encourage individuals to pursue sports medicine, including psychology and physiotherapy
v. The development of our growing sports tourism industry will be a priority
The checklist of achievement of these laudable objectives should reflect their current status from when they were identified in 2010. The development of sport as with any other industry must be built upon research. Research does not only provide information about what is happening but also provides a basis upon which rational and logical decisions can be based upon. As such it will be informative to find out:
i. What research was requested and carried out?
ii. Who was the research body/ies?
iii. What were the findings and are they available to the public?
iv. What were decisions that were based on these research projects and findings?
The research that was used to inform the Hoop of Life and Life Sport programmes will definitely be beneficial to the population. Furthermore, it will be very useful to find out from the research findings whether or not these programmes were effective. And if not, how can future social sport programmes be effective especially when state funds are being utilised?
How has the findings from sport research been used to develop the first platform 'developing our people through sport?' In other words, how has the data been used to increase participation in sport and physical activities throughout the country based on age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disabilities, geography, and social class?
The status of the National Sport Policy on rewards and incentives is of critical importance as another Olympic games looms in 2016.
It is high time that a policy is developed to guide the usage of state funds to reward athletes for stellar performances. Failure to do will allow for unrestricted politicisation of state funds in the rewarding of athletes as happened in the aftermath of the 2012 London Olympics and on previous occasions.
There is a lot of hype for developing sport tourism in T&T. After five years of governance the following information should be provided:
i. What is the status of the National Sport Tourism Policy?
ii. What are the signature sporting events that have been identified to lead the development of Sport Tourism?
iii. What accompanying research has taken place to inform the Sport Tourism Policy and its implementation strategies?
The third platform for developing sport and leisure was to focus on 'sport facilities.' A number of significant achievements were to be achieved through these facilities:
i. Establish sporting academies to optimise the training of our sportsmen and women.
ii. Provide first-class training and management skills for our national coaches and sports managers in all disciplines
iii. Channel the best sporting individuals from the schools into the sport academies
iv. Key sporting facilities will be maintained and managed by clubs/associations
v. Design state of the art facilities, such as swimming pools, and other summer sport to attract athletes from North America and Europe to rent our facilities during winter months
The overriding questions that have to be answered to above aims are:
i. What have been the policies developed to achieve the identified goals?
ii. What have been the strategies implemented achieve the goals of the developed policies?
iii. What have been the successes of the policies developed and strategies implemented?
iv. What have been the identified stumbling blocks if any to achieving these goals?
v. Is the sport tourism policy and programme of T&T attractive to overshadow that of other Caribbean countries such as Barbados?
The People's National Movement 2010 manifesto recognised sport as an important tool for fostering community life, healthy lifestyle, national pride and developing sport businesses (www.caribbeanelections.com/eDocs/manifestos/tt/PNM_manifesto_%202010.pdf).
?The PNM manifesto focused on the achievements to date of the election without stating exactly how they were to further build upon the operational activities that were in place. Some of their achievements were quantified:
i. 17 new community recreation grounds, 12 hard courts and 13 lighted jogging tracks over the period 2007-2009
ii. 22 athletes qualified and competed under the Elite Athletes Assistance Programme at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
iii. The development of regional and sub-regional grounds as well as recreational grounds
iv. 71 Schools engaged in the 'Learn to Swim' Programme
v. The introduction of the 'Women and Girls in Sport Festival' in 2009 where there were 840 participants
vi. The construction of world class cycling, swimming and tennis centres.
A holistic approach to sport seemed very much absent from their 2010 manifesto and it will only be mere speculation as to how their vision to sport would have materialised as they were in opposition over the past five years.
We can now ponder over what we will like to see addressed under the theme 'sport' in all the 2015 manifestos.