The crisis deepens

The search for people to administer sports here in St Vincent and the Grenadines is fast becoming a more arduous task.{{more}}

It is not that there are no people who have the know-how, the skill and the quality to be servants on the various organizations, be it at the community or national level, but conspicuously absent is that will.

When one listened to the wooing, almost going on bended knees, to have Dr Sherian Slater continue in her position as head of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Squash Association, it simply tells half of the story.

In the same breath, all of the other executive positions were basically dished out to those present and who still have an interest in volunteerism in them.

Whilst the Squash Association has had some committed people to keep the ship afloat, the administrative situation with tennis nationally, was only fixed last September.

The mountainous climb to get an executive installed took the better part of two years, before some suitable and willing people finally said enough was enough and no more.

Another case in point was the apparent nonchalant response to the Barrouallie Sports Association’s attempt to host its Annual General Meeting, which would have involved the election of a new executive committee.

Things just seem to drag on and most people are contented with it as just another occasion, and it reflects the general response to things here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The same is unfolding with the Ashburton Sports and Cultural Organization’s (ASCO) set-up, as reports are that its netball tournament may be aborted. Not new to ASCO, as last year’s softball cricket competition got started and never got to its end.

Here the over reliance on one man to get the job done, burst at its seams and the weakness of the organization exposed its belly for the entire island to observe and examine.

Not to be left out is the Calliaqua Area Development Organization (CADO) which runs football, netball and softball cricket competitions annually, and struggles to get them finished, because of the absence of people with the stickability to complete the tasks.

Likewise, the Diamonds Football League which had two successful years – 2011 and 2012, has fallen by the wayside, mainly through the absence of an executive which is on the ball, with people with specific roles.

In cycling, things basically go to a standstill, whenever the SVG Cycling Union’s president is out of the state.

On a more telling note though, we have seen the virtual disappearance of a functioning Marriaqua Sports Association, since the man with indomitable spirit and fervour Larry Bascombe departed this life almost five years ago.

There are many more of a similar nature which can be listed and highlighted, but space does not permit.

It is a known fact that most successful organizations prosper through the sweat of a few, but collectively, things go in the right direction.

However, what has been unfolding over the past few years is the over-reliance on one person, namely the president, to be the holder of everything and the lone decision maker of the organization.

But does this conundrum have to be so? Must we all sit and accept that better cannot be done?

The manifestation of such happenings therefore fingers the need for renewal of sorts in the field of sports administration, which is in fact commitment to the cause by those who are placed in positions.

Sounds simple, but it is not easy , as verbal ridicule, mostly unfounded by the nay-sayers and bystanders, often repel others who mean well.

The hosting of leadership workshops and the like, have all been tried by several parent bodies, but the crisis deepens with every passing day.

In the case of national football, its executive members receive a monthly stipend as recommended by FIFA.This helps to act as an incentive for longevity of service, but how many other sporting organizations – national or otherwise can afford such a privilege?

There, however, is no one solution to this issue of replacement in the very near future for the present slate of servants, as people are just shying away from coming forward.

Despite what appears to be gloom and doom, sports must go on and thrive, and hopefully an administrative oasis can be found sooner rather than later.