For the better part of the last decade the focus has shifted from the athletes on the playing field to the administrators in the Board rooms. From today and through weekly publications the Trinidad Guardian will engage you in discussions and debates as the Sport Doctor examines sports on and off the field.
While sporting disciplines such as basketball, boxing, cricket, cycling, football, gymnastics, hockey, athletics, netball and swimming are all worthy of being my first focus in this debut edition, I will instead focus on the National Sport Policy for which consultation with National Governing Bodies (NGBs) commences on Wednesday and will end this Friday.
This policy is what will guide 55 sporting organizations of which 15 are directly under the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT).
My concern is that the last policy was not honoured to the letter by the NGBs, SPORTT and the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.
The big question is, what will make this new policy more effective since both the NGBs and SPORTT failed to adhere to the requirements of the last policy and gave funding to many broken administrations, including those of basketball and swimming, which displayed a lack of accountability for public funds.
Further, the Ministry of Sport issued a press release back on March 16, 2016, indicating that having consulted with the T&T Olympic Committee, it advises the public that as government entities the Ministry and SPORTT may monitor, but should not intervene in, disputes within NGBs for sport.
The release also stated: "NGBs may be held accountable to the Government should the use of public funds be in question.
Further, the Ministry responsible for Sport may consider withholding funds from an NGB if it cannot resolve its internal disputes professionally and maturely or if executive decisions are not in keeping with best sporting practice or the tenets of the National Sport Policy.
"The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago will continue to support NGBs in the conduct of their affairs and in the best interest of the athletes and support staff who represent Trinidad and Tobago. We hope for a fair and speedy resolution to all disputes and for good governance in sport to be normalised in the affairs of all NGBs."
The use of the word 'may' demonstrates that both the ministry and SPORTT are not serious about holding administrators accountable for misappropriation of funds which is always the end result.
This new policy must indicate that NGBs 'will' be held accountable.
As we all know, to date, of the 15 disciplines under SPORTT, only gymnastics had their funds withheld while the jury is still out as to why, while sports associations like those for basketball and swimming–which have not held Annual General Meetings and have failed to present audited financial statements to their members for a period of time–have received funding for 2015 and 2016.
The Ministry of Sport and SPORTT must lead by example by enforcing their own rules and policies and only then sport and sport administrators will start earning administrative respect.
The Ministry of Sport and SPORTT have propped up delinquent and incompetent administrators over the last five years by providing them with funding under the guise of doing it for the good of the athletes.
The Minister of Sport Darryl Smith and the Chairman of SPORTT Michael Phillips must ensure that their staffs are held accountable for any breach of the new policy when implemented.
The National Sport Policy must be upheld without favour and compromise.('Without fear or favour).
Sport administrators who failed to contribute towards the development of their discipline and fail to account for their actions must resign or their membership must vote against them for being incompetent.
The Ministry of Sport and SPORTT must also discontinue funding.
�2 EDITOR'S NOTE: Keith Clement is the Assistant Sport Editor at the Trinidad Guardian.