If the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) government was serious about sports and what it could contribute to the country’s economy, they would ensure it receives the attention required as a standalone ministry.
This is the view of Member of Parliament for the St Mary’s South Constituency and a member of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Kelvin “Shugy” Simon, who said that in other Caribbean countries, sports is a major contributor to their overall growth and development.
“From where we are right now, we can’t be twinning Ministry of Sports with no other ministry. I think it’s supposed to be a ministry by itself if we’re really serious about it. In Jamaica for example, sports contributes to their GDP [Gross Domestic Product] as 2 percent of their GDP comes from sports. Why is it we can’t be thinking on that level? We still see sports as being a liability to government revenue rather than being a contributor. Sports is supposed to be able to stand on its own two feet. In fact, the surplus or the revenue coming in from sports should be so big that it should be able to contribute to other sectors of society,” he said.
Largely considered the UPP’s spokesperson on sports, Simon opined that sports is still seen as a ‘burden’ by those in authority here, instead of looking at its potential to improve the lives of Antiguans and Barbudans through economic gains to the country.
“The young man [Rai Benjamin] who medalled at the Olympics [in Paris 2024], he came down here with his training squad and they were at YASCO. I would have been ashamed as the Minister of Sports to go in there to greet anybody in that dilapidated sporting facility,” he said.
“We have Olympians who are proud to be Antiguan flagbearers, so why is it that we can’t look at it from a business perspective and say, ‘hey Rai, let’s work out a deal where you can bring your athletes or training partners down to the Caribbean in the off season and you train here?’. Similarly, you have teams in the NBA that come to the Caribbean, and Miami Heat goes to the Bahamas every year. Why can’t we build a nice indoor stadium that can facilitate the coming of these teams here? I know they don’t go for free,” the MP added.
Simon also took the government to task over what he labels a publicity stunt after they made an announcement in August last year that former West Indies captain, Sir Richie Richardson was to be appointed a junior minister within the Ministry of Sports. They later said he would be appointed Commissioner of Sports. However, there has been no word since then as to whether Sir Richie has taken up the role or when he will be officially appointed.
“Having made an announcement like that, you would expect this good gentleman to hit the ground running because this man is a former professional and he know what it takes to prepare at an elite level, so I would have expected them to equip this good gentleman with the resources necessary to perform his work; but there is nothing. In my estimation it was just a political move that gets people excited but then there is no follow-through,” he said.
In August last year, Minister of Sports, Daryll Matthew, said promised upgrades to the YASCO Sports Complex would commence during the first quarter of this year as part of the government’s commitment to putting Antigua and Barbuda on the medal podium at the next Olympic Games in 2028.
