Beyond the SVGOC’s general meeting 

The recent hosting of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee’s (SVGOC) general meeting and more so, the elections, should make for a better four years, as it relates to the administration of sports here by the governing body.

This is so because many aspects of the administrative framework of the SVGOC seemingly need fixing, or addressing with some urgency.

Coming out of the meeting though, there was evidence of clear factions of support and persons, who by their pronouncements, were prepared to change the status quo.

But this was not to be, as it was almost a case of “as you were”, and things are basically back to normal.

There was a show of confidence in the return of president Trevor Bailey, vice-president Wayne Williams, general secretary Keith Joseph and treasurer Jacintha Ballantyne, all of whom have given a number of years of service to the SVGOC, which was previously known as the National Olympic Association and the National Olympic Committee.

 The quartet’s re-installation came despite the grumblings in some quarters, but it is who has the majority of votes which matters in the end.

This is also the case, as the SVGOC’s constitution does not speak to term limits; therefore, it boils down to a moral issue of those seeking re-election and the preferences of the affiliates.

Some may ask, as a matter of introspection, should the long-standing officers open the windows and doors and let some fresh breeze in?

Can it, therefore, be concluded that there is a leadership crisis in sports? Or is it that persons have given up on becoming involved in sports leadership and management?

In the case at hand, there is no system of succession planning enshrined in the operations of the SVGOC; it is left to the wishes of the affiliates to determine the next path to be traversed.

In going forward though, the SVGOC’s current executive has to look within and take with constructive analyses, the many criticisms that were aired during the recent general meeting.

The onus, therefore, rests with the affiliates too, who cannot sit idly by for the next four years and be called to only vote again. They have to begin to be watch dogs of the officers they have placed in charge of the administration of their business.

The affiliates should not accept the e-mail relationship which has been the single most utilized mode of communication between them and the SVGOC’s executive in the most recent past. And those member associations which only exist by name, which do not host national championships and the like, must get serious.

Bailey and company should ensure that the national volleyball body, despite its growth in recent years, do its moral obligations and have a national championship.

The same must be the case of the SVG Boxing Association and the SVG Basketball Federation, which have relegated themselves to listless bodies, based on their sporadic activities.

The remnants of those two organizations should be made to shape up within a given time-frame, or otherwise face sanctions.

But will the executive have the fortitude to read the riot act to them?

In a similar vein, there must be a reciprocal value for expenditure on technical courses gained by member associations.

Whilst, these courses are a given by virtue of their availability to St Vincent and the Grenadines, recipient associations should show some improvements in the constituents’ technical abilities to validate the monies spent on them.

Linked to this too, there should be a concerted effort to up the ante and move away from the token representation at Olympic Games; instead work towards getting someone qualified and truly earning the right to be a national representative.

We should not be contented with the universality offered to athletics and swimming and be mere participants at the quadrennial showpieces.

And, to get away from the in-house operations of the SVGOC, a way must be found to promote inclusion of persons from outside of the national set-ups.

Such inclusions can be past Olympians and others who have participated in sports nationally in St Vincent and the Grenadines, in any capacity.

The next four years should be the break point period one way or the other for the SVGOC.