Too little too late from Sport Minister

Where was this same minister when the whole brouhaha erupted? Where was the clear voice of leadership to deal with the issue and prevent it becoming the slime fest it inevitably became due to the lack of anything like authority on the matter? The sad thing is the vast majority still do not know what went wrong if anything and who is to be blamed if there is guilt to be shared. So while this minister’s take on the issue is already too late, it is also too little.

That he ignored the matter completely and allowed racism and bullying to dominate this country’s involvement in this edition of the Olympics demonstrates conclusively how woefully underqualified he is for the position he is in. And following on his abysmal handling of the Arbor/Rosewood matter while enjoying another sweetheart political appointment as chairman of the Diego Martin Regional Corporation shows how unqualified he is for any position of public authority at all.

The country needs to call for three things: 1) An adjudication in the entire matter by a competent authority that leads to a ventilation of all that took place and a judgment.

2) A proper investigation into the functioning of the TT Gymnastics Federation and, flowing from that, all other nationally endowed and constituted sports bodies to determine if there are sufficient safeguards to function.

3) The removal from office of the minister for his failure to intervene and take decisive action in a matter that eventually brought international shame to this country. All of that of course is a function of leadership.

PHILLIP ALEXANDER via email