The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.
by Dawn-Marie Armstrong
At the most recent sitting of parliament, there were calls by MPs Dwight Sutherland (St. George South) and Neil Rowe (St. Michael North West) for the development of recreational and sport facilities in their respective constituencies. However, like any other project that will be financed by the tax-paying citizens of Barbados, requisite steps must be taken before approval for construction is granted.
Several questions have arisen. Have members of the community been engaged to provide a working understanding of what they need? Have all stakeholders been consulted to ensure these synergies properly serve the specified communities? And what are the developmental models that will govern the functioning of these facilities?
I recently advocated for the elderly to be considered in future plans for social development when delivering my address during the DLP’s 66th Annual Conference. I am now asking the MPs to tell the public what exact purpose these centres will serve. Will they just be for socialisation? What kind of social programmes will they offer? We know that most of our elderly in Barbados are sedentary, how do we engage them? How do we ensure that there is access for all?
There is so much more thought that needs to be given into such a proposal because we must ensure that we are not just paying lip service to an ongoing plight in this country. Who will service these facilities? Which professionals will ensure efficient functioning? How can we prevent facilities being defaced and property being damaged? What about security? Over the years, in this country, too many buildings have been constructed only to become derelict and used improperly, clearly in breach of health and safety regulations.
We need to begin thinking about sustainable construction with a focus on continuity and a community-driven culture. I believe that the MP for St. George South owes it to the public to provide a breakdown of the hierarchical structure, staff and programmes along with the financial allocation to each of these contingencies before approval can be granted for the facility at Workmans.
Likewise, the MP for St. Michael North West needs to show how he intends to develop sport in Deacons, not only as a means of developing the community, but with a commitment to contributing to national sports development which has the potential of bolstering the social capital of Barbados.
More specifically, with a fully developed plan, an idea such as this can lay the foundation of a cross-cutting agenda bringing into play different portfolios across Education, Health and Wellness and Agriculture. Surely, community and sport development should not be limited to these two constituencies while the others are deprived, unless the motives are politically driven with the sole intention of appeasing a portion of the electorate and forsaking the others.
It is now that I call on the Government and the Minister of Youth, Sport and Community Empowerment to roll out a plan to develop all communities across Barbados, since they have raised the subject of recreational and sport facilities across certain communities. As it was deemed a matter of urgency at the last sitting, I trust that this plan can be delivered to the public with the same haste and put into effect with the same energy at which the former plans were proposed.
Dawn-Marie Armstrong is a Sport Psychologist, Doctoral Trainee, Democratic Labour Party Candidate for St. George South and Spokesperson for Youth, Sport and Culture – Email: comradedawnarmstrong@gmail.com
