Democracy, Schemocracy!
Wed, May 9, '18
The administration of sports in Jamaica is a serious job. Whenever a vacancy for the post of leader in cricket, football, or netball, comes up, there is usually a well-documented fight for the position of top administrator.
However, it is universally accepted that whatever the length of time of the reign, these leaders are supposed to improve the status of the sport, not only in ranking, but also in overall development of the participants in the particular sport. In most countries, failure to do any of the above results in either resignation or dismissal.
Here in Jamaica, the opposite occurs. When exposed to the trappings and benefits of being president, our sport administrators, find scapegoats and other bizarre reasons to stay in place, even though the sport spirals down to irrelevancy. In a recent radio interview, sports administrator par excellence, the Honourable Mike Fennel, revealed that in the Olympic movement there is a concerted effort to train these administrators/leaders, as the movement recognises that these positions require particular skills, and is not only left to those who can garner enough votes to the position at election time.
In cricket and football, the method of selecting/electing a leader, seems to be skewered in favour of a few, who pay scant regard to the wishes of the majority of those whose financial support guarantee the very survival of the sport. It is now irrefutable that spectator/fan support for the game is at an all-time low. The ranking of the one-time indisputable kings of world cricket, the Windies, has now descended to the level where we have to play against the so-called minnows of the sport in order to qualify to be a part of major competitions. Which means that the Windies are now minnows.
