Governance issues confronting Vincentian sports

It is an undeniable fact that little attention is paid to the governance issues affecting the development of sports and their respective parent bodies in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

As it is, most persons readily look at the outcomes, the results on the field or on the court, then weigh up the success or failure of that discipline.{{more}}

Unfortunately, such structures are impacting negatively on the overall sporting landscape and put St Vincent and the Grenadines at a disadvantageous position. At the core of the derailing process is the reliance and engagement of the organisation’s constitution. Some organisations are operating under derelict constitutions which are not fit for the times and the direction and demands which sports worldwide entail.

Fundamentally too, most persons see sporting organisations as outlets to build their resumés; hence persons are elected to positions without the real desire to serve and without the acumen to fulfill their portfolios.

Executives are then littered with persons who are square pegs in round holes, adding to the lack of a professional approach to governance of the sport.

These types of configurations often lend themselves to conflicts of interest.

How many of our national sporting bodies have officers who are independent of their team or club? As a consequence, persons make decisions which benefit the team or club to which they have allegiance, in most cases to the detriment of the sport and the national good. Do organistations carry out performance appraisals of their elected officers, even though they are rendering their contributions mostly gratis?

Likewise, in the main, things are done in an ad hoc fashion, inclusive of financial control and management. How many organisations have trustees and oversight committees to guard the finances? The normal course of spending is directed by the president, who gives the treasurer the right of way to dispense funds for a particular purpose.

Do all organisations that receive funding from their international sources, comply with the regulatory conditions which fashion the financial operations of the land?

This is against the fact that some organisations, at the start of each calendar year, engage their members in planning sessions for the next 11 months. Whilst this is an acceptable best practice, how many continually review their targets and ensure that they are above board with their operations? How many national associations are on top of their affiliates? How many get regular reports from them and vice versa?

One school of thought says that the level of commitment and output in associations is dictated by the amateur nature of the organizations and because services given to organisations are generally voluntary.

However, this concept must neither be bought nor sold, as sports is fast becoming a first choice industry. Whilst the former is factual in the Vincentian context, the latter must be ditched, as we are seeing the requirements of the world governing bodies.

How long will those international organizations sit and wait for us to get to that stage of efficiency and continue to provide handouts for us while we regress? Surely, not for very long, as the fast pace of progress is leaving St Vincent and the Grenadines to chase shadows.

Getting our houses in order is twofold, as first there are basically not many clubs in St Vincent and the Grenadines, but rather sporting units. On the other end, the existing national associations, which are made up of the personnel of the units, they too must professionalise their operations and act as a true parent.

But do we have that will to change the course of things and acknowledge that the right path is better than what gives at present?

Are associations willing to take up the challenge to revamp, reassess and refocus their mandate?

Are we ready to prioritise sports as a national treasure, which can add to the treasury?

These do not exempt the foresight of the national policy makers, who must create the skeletal support with the provision of facilities and structures to enable growth and development?

Vincentians sit and admire the top clubs of the world, buy their merchandise, give them unrelenting support, but rarely stop and ponder what makes them what they are today.

For us to remain in the lane in which we are existing, is simply accepting sports as recreation and nothing more.