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Wednesday, July 1, 2009

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Budget shows government's respect for sports program By FRED STURRUP ~ NG Associate Editor ~ frederick@nasguard.com: On a goodly amount of times in this space, I have decried the general approach various central administrations have taken toward funding our national sports program. The inadequate allocations from the annual national budgets have been a source of deep frustration for those in the nation's sports family. This time though, considering the global financial gloom and the dismal picture painted by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham when he presented the 2009/2010 National Budget two days ago, congratulations are in order. I have gone through the figures and it is refreshing to see the crafting that will enable the Ministry of Sports to, I believe at the very least, maintain its assistance level to the national program generally. While many ministries and departments have had their allocations slashed, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture has been provided with an estimate of $19,087,933 for 2009/2010 compared to $17,977,806 for the previous fiscal period. That's a surplus of more than a million, $1,110,127 to be exact. I did an examination of the various categories and there were some individual cuts, but generally, Desmond Bannister, the minister, has some breathing room to work with. Those within the sports fraternity must of course, keep their demands comparative to the economic situation. Overall though, they ought to be satisfied that given the scenario, the government has done well by sports. The subventions scheme, that all-important facility that enables our elite athletes to be subsisted in their training, has jumped by $270,815. Yes, the figure is now $1,170,815. It is therefore important that the Permanent Secretary and the Director n See Sportscope on C2 of Sports keep the pressure on the various sports federations to ensure that the athletes they have recommended, function always in accordance with the conditions for subvention. They ought to use the funds for training and there has to be recognition that representation of the country in regional and international events is part and parcel to being included in the program. In this regard, there must be insistence no matter who the athlete might be. Athletes who fail to comply should be taken off the list immediately. In the past, this has been an area in which federations have fallen down badly. Well, this is certainly not the time for the subvention monthly pay-outs to be used for anything other than what the arrangements call for. The national sports endowment fund got sliced by $500,000. However, it had been increased from $1,331,870 to a full $2,000,000. The cut of a half million is understandable in tough times. The contributions to federations and other sports entities will be less during 2009/2010 by some $40,000. The figure available now is $360,000. That has to be shared around. The ministry will also have $120,000 for special aid to athletes as compared to $60,000 the previous year. Undoubtedly, Minister Bannister made a strong representation to Prime Minister Ingraham and the rest of his Cabinet colleagues. Kudos to you Minister Bannister! Tuesday, June 2, 2009