These days I find myself spending a lot of time trying to make sense of what is taking place here in T&T. A lot of what is happening does not make sense, at least for the neutrals that have no political allegiances or association, if you are in the middle and count your only allegiance as simply being for T&T. As such, common sense and right thinking are the baseline considerations not politics. It is bewildering and frustrating. It’s a minefield out there and any misstep could prove detrimental. Yesterday was Budget day and one had expected that the way forward would be clear. Yet again politics seems to have trumped common sense.
Recently I read a Washington Post column by Robert J Samuelson in it he made an interesting observation on the dilemma of democracy. Samuelson said: “People want their leaders to tell the truth, but they often don’t want to hear the truth. Genuine leaders escape this trap by persuading public opinion to acknowledge distasteful problems. But these leaders are rare. Most pursue immediate popularity over truth even if this deepens long-term public mistrust.” Root and branch review of financial spending is a must if any organisation is to avoid wasteful spending. Budgets and the process of formulating a budget are supposed to present a clear direction and strategy as to the vision, aims and objectives. It is also supposed to present an opportunity to assess and evaluate. Sport is no exception, in this respect calls by both the Ministry of Sport and Sport Company for audited accounts and justification for the use of public funds is a necessary feature of good and transparent governance.
It is essential that both the Ministry of Sport and Sport Company hold and call National Sport Organisations(NSOs) to account. Anyone who takes issue with such a requirement should be looked at with caution. It is imperative that national sport organisations operate above board. However demands that NSOs properly and independently account for public funds must be against a background of fair play. In so far as the Ministry and Sport Company is perceived by NSOs as placing demands that they themselves are not prepared to meet leads to credibility and trust issues. In sports, as in life, hard work and honesty matters. As do ethics and doing things right. The fact that both the Ministry and Sport Company control the purse strings can either be a carrot or a big stick. When the big stick approach is applied resentment builds. As will the perception of unequal treatment. Right now the operating environment is perceived as fear and big-stick based.
Goodwill is essential for any human endeavour to thrive far less survive. But for any review to be effective it must begin with everyone looking at themselves first. Fix your own house first before you focus on fixing any other house. How then do we deal with the current reality where the public has a natural distrust of politicians and leaders? Sport is an expression of culture and each sport brings with it a unique culture. It is necessary that there be respect for different cultures. In the push to professionalise local sport there is a grave danger that those who are being paid will forget that sport anywhere in the world thrives because people give their time for free for children and young people to simply be able to play. Why a root and branch review? Why budget? Why plan? Why evaluate and measure? Somewhere along the line we have to come to the realisation that we can do much better. That there is improvement and that we are far from making optimum use of the potential, talent and resources.
-Brian Lewis
Source: www.guardian.co.tt
