Lewis calls for Govt to play greater role in development

SOLUTIONS must be found for the complete and total development of our youngsters and in that regard the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs must be prepared to play a greater role in the process. “Who is responsible for the development of sports in the country?  If there are National Sporting Associations  and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs then clearly there must be a shared responsibility,” said Ellis Lewis, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB).

Lewis was speaking at the prize distribution function of the British Gas-sponsored National Under-15 and Under-17 tournaments at Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain on Friday. “How then should these stakeholders come together for the benefit of sports in our country and to share the responsibility?” Lewis asked. He then questioned whether sports organisations should not submit their plans so Government  would have an idea of their needs, and he also wondered whether there should be an annual forum with the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs to forge some “kind of consensus  on the development of sports in the country.”

Lewis also questioned whether the ministry should only be a conduit for the disbursement  of donations “for those who ask and are favoured.”  He insisted that he was not passing judgement but only asking questions. The top cricket official was also concerned about criminal activities in the country. “Should we not have a policy document and action plan based on sports and its input towards solutions to criminal activities among the young? “We need to clearly understand the role which sports must play in the holistic development of our society  and to put in place the necessary action plan  to help solve problems,” he said. Lewis said he did not want to make the function “a gripe session” and added that we are now entering an exciting period of cricket in the West Indies with the coming of the World Cup in 2007. He said the ICC is convinced that TT can successfully host the event. “It is not a gift to us but we have to face the many challenges that will crop up because the future of West Indies cricket is inextricably linked to the World Cup,” Lewis said.

He paid tribute to British Gas Limited for their sponsorship since 1994 “which is contributing to the development of youth through cricket.” Aleem Hosein, Head of the Corporate and External Affairs of British Gas, Trinidad and Tobago, congratulated the TTCB “for not only developing youth cricket but in the further development of the minds   and hearts of our nation’s youths.” “And your hard work has paid off regarding the success of our young players in the regional tournaments, especially in the Under-15 Category,” he added. Hosein felt that the youth sporting programmes of the TTCB “gives us hope in the region for the future of West Indies Cricket.” Hosein said that British Gas was giving national assistance to cricket, football, and netball and other forms of community programmes.