Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 24, 2010 Sports
Dear Sports Editor,
Your writer/reporter, Mr. Rawle Welch is obviously letting you down in terms of the professionalism I’m sure you seek and which should be the tenet of fair and balanced reporting.
This “feature column” captioned WHERE IS THE NATIONAL SPORTS POLICY?” (KN April 20, 2010) seems, to the untrained eye and uninformed mind, to be well meaning and intended to provoke debate and ultimate official action.
However, in truth and journalistic fact, Welch is here guilty of cheap, shoddy journalism, using a known technique to pen and publish an unbalanced critique to attract cheap popularity. Without any queries from the Ministry of Sport and the National Sports Commission, Welch essays to purport that NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO produce, publish and implement a National Sports Policy.
For starters, the senior Sports Writer/Editor at Kaieteur News, Mr. Franklin Wilson, is a leading member of an action oriented Committee meeting to refine the most comprehensive, unprecedented Sports Policy to be ever produced in this country.
If that document is seen as delayed and overdue, it is because the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, led by Minister Dr. Frank Anthony himself, has sought to solicit and ensure the participation and contribution of virtually every stake holder concerned with Sport.
Is THERE SOME HIDDEN AGENDA WHICH MOTIVATES PERSONS LIKE RAWLE WELCH TO RUSH TO PRESS WITHOUT COMMUNICATING WITH THE MINISTRY OF SPORT, WHOSE MINISTER IS RELATIVELY ACCESSIBLE TO THE MEDIA?
For the general information of those interested as well as those who might be mis-informed by Mr. Welch, here under is a summary of events relevant to the production of Guyana’s “National Sports Policy.”
Minister Anthony started the process two years ago when he convened a meeting with all Sports Association and other interested parties.
That meeting at the Cliff Anderson Sport Hall resulted in the establishment of three committees after the Minister had outlined the need for a National Sports Policy.
After one year of intensive consultations and contributions the Draft Document presented did not satisfy the Minister as being the most comprehensive Plan that it should have been.
Many aspects of a modern sports policy were missing including, for example, the issue of anti doping procedures and protocols.
That first review resulted in the Ministry approaching the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for funding and other forms of assistance to develop an improved Plan.
Enter DR. COLIN HIGGS, a Canadian Professor of Sport and External Consultant who came to Guyana, consulted with the country’s Sports associations once again and officials from the Ministries of Education, Health and Amerindian Affairs reviewed and upgraded the existing Draft document and using a most scientific Canadian model used internationally, presented to Dr. Anthony a “Proposal for A SPORTS PLAN FOR THE CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA” last month.
This Sports Policy and Plan is underpinned by a scientific formula which envisages lifelong participation under “THE GUYANA LONG TERM ATHLETE/PARTICIPANT MODEL. All the earlier recommendations from Guyana’s Sports Associations and other key stake holders in Sport are accommodated in this new plan/policy.
The pillars of the Guyana Policy will rest on the school system, sports associations clubs and community programmes, among other core elements.
Details are to be released in a matter of weeks when the Plan is officially laid over.
But some grave lack of communication seems to beset the “enthusiastic” Rawle Welch as he apparently was unaware that just this PAST FRIDAY (APRIL 16, 2010) his own colleague/editor, Mr. Wilson, was invited to a Validation Session for all sports associations and other relevant bodies.
This validation was to review and assess the re-written Sports Policy and Plan submitted by Professor Higgs. Before the discussion that Friday the meeting was addressed by Dr. Karen Pilgrim, Vice President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Honorary Secretary of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association, Mr. Hector Edwards, University Lecturer, President of National Cycling Federation and associated with national cycling, Mr. Robin Singh, High Performance, Elite Cricket Coach, Mr. Conrad Plummer who discussed the financing of elements of a Sports Plan and Mr. Nicholas Fraser, Cuban trained School-Sport specialist attached to the Ministry of Education’s Allied Arts Unit.
Thirty (30) Sports Associations attended and participated fully with sterling contributions from such personalities as Christopher Ram and Ed Caesar. The stakeholders have asked for two weeks to submit their final comments.
All of this, Sports Commentator Welch, is to ensure as much consensus on this unprecedented document as possible. Meaningful consultation and participation will inform the National Sports Plan and Policy.
These processes take time to arrive at some standard of excellence with which to guide the future of sports development in our country.
In seeking to criticise journalists worth their salary should investigate as objectively as their profession allows and as fairly as personal pride and ability dictate. Some writers seem bereft of all the above.
Neil Kumar
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]