The headline read: “More workers lose jobs; Sport Ministry short-term staff hit”. However, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Phillip Watts denied that any employees were dismissed, insisting that the contracts of short-term workers simply expired.
At the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, as well as other Ministries and government-controlled entities, there are changes or decisions that will negatively impact some while positively impacting others - isn’t that the natural reality of a democracy? Democracy, it is said, is always messy.
Furthermore, aren’t many of the recent decisions a consequence of past decisions made over a decade or more?
Short-term contracts, by definition, are just that short term. When and how did short-term become a thing in the Public Service? Who will take responsibility for short-term contracts becoming the default employment method and its consequences? Is it the unions, policymakers, or politicians? Media reports suggest that some persons have been on short-term contracts for 10, 13 or even more years. How is 10, 13 or even more years short-term?
Today, I wanted to take a brief look at women and girls in sport, especially as during my tenure as the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) president, “Future is Female” was a significant initiative. Many people may have only focused on the perception of leadership, power and control.
Future is Female - Women and Girls in Sport - there are many elements to it. Some of those elements still remain taboo, including the issue of sexual harassment and sexual violence. But also the need for better education and support for female athletes regarding hormonal health and menstrual cycles. Endometriosis is still taboo to talk about. Taboos are a threat to safety and safe spaces. Another taboo is that talking about female issues isn’t for men to address. The old school, rigid, conservative and traditional resistance remains prevalent. It’s still shameful for open discussion within sport about the full spectrum of female issues.
Another taboo topic is the high visibility and acceptance of gay and bisexual women in professional women’s leagues like the WNBA and women’s football. And the perception amongst Caribbean parents and guardians that their “girl child” will be unduly influenced.
Homophobia and discrimination are still prevalent in sports environments. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other non-heterosexual or non-cisgender (LGBTQ+) community is prevalent within sports across the world.
As we are on the topic of women’s sport. A recent excellent example of powerful leadership and accountability came from A’Ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, who has taken a two-game lead in the WNBA Finals versus the Phoenix Mercury. The Aces were struggling at one point in the season. After a particularly crushing 53-point loss to Minnesota, Wilson - the Aces star player and four-time WNBA MVP - sent a text message to her Las Vegas Aces teammates that said, “If you weren’t embarrassed, don’t come to the gym. You’re not needed or wanted here. We need the mindset to shift, because that was embarrassing”.
Wilson’s leadership, accountability and text became the turning point for the Las Vegas Aces.
How do we remove the barrier of taboo topics surrounding women and girls in sport?
Turnarounds don’t usually occur without someone speaking hard truths. That’s what is needed - hard truths, authentic leadership and accountability. If it is, we want things to turn around. There is no easy way. If it were, it wouldn’t be called a turnaround.
