The following were the remarks made by Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Gary Hunt (right) at a media conference today hosted by the Football Professionals Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) to announce the Ministry's three-year investment in the organisation.
The conference was attended by Minister Hunt, Permanent Secretary Margaret Farray, FPATT President Shaka Hislop and executive members of FPATT.
"Throughout 2008 the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs has consistently highlighted a new vision for sport in Trinidad and Tobago and its role in our human and social development. Unfortunately the focus at times seems to have been more on personalities instead of the major issues and key principles. I would therefore like to highlight, once again, a few of the key objectives of the Ministry’s strategic plan since it would also explain the reason for supporting groups such as the Football Players Association of Trinidad and Tobago.
"One of the main objectives of our new vision is the establishment of greater collaboration among all the stakeholders involved in sport. This is based on the principle that the days of the ‘one-man’ show are over and that sport in the modern era is far too complex for the old, individualistic system to work. If, as a society, we are serious about change and democracy then the sporting world offers the ideal opportunity to demonstrate this commitment.
"The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs believes that if all stakeholders come together in a spirit of true cooperation then we can achieve so much more in terms of sporting glory. I am therefore very pleased with the response to this initiative from most of our National Sporting Organizations. It should be noted that with regard to cricket the Ministry also provided support to the West Indies Players Association (W.I.P.A.) since we feel that the cricketers themselves are also important stakeholders in the development of cricket. In the same way the Ministry has identified FPATT as a major stakeholder in the development of football and we have therefore agreed to provide financial assistance for an initial 3-year period. We expect that at the end of this period the Players Association will become self-sufficient and self-reliant.
"Another important objective of the Ministry’s new vision is the modernization of our approach to the management of sport in Trinidad and Tobago. During the past year, I spoke repeatedly about the need to ‘professionalize’ the operations of our National Sporting Organizations and to establish modern systems of financial management and general administration. Sport today is a billion dollar industry with huge sums of money available from a variety of sources including corporate sponsors and the electronic media, especially television. As a result there is a great need for accountability and transparency since our NSOs are not private companies but are in fact quasi public enterprises that are using public funds in conducting their affairs. The Ministry has stated emphatically that we will not compromise on the need for integrity in the administration of sport.
"More importantly, however, it is critical that the revenues generated from sport are invested in the development of the game itself especially in terms of player development. In the final analysis it is the player who is the most important factor since without him or her there would be no football and the game would die. A Football Players Association has a major role to play in the development of young footballers since such an organization would have a deeper understanding of the major issues affecting the player. It is perhaps significant that FIFA, the governing body for world football, has recognized the importance of Players’ Associations and it is working closely with the FIFPro the International Federation of Players Associations.
"In 2006, President of FIFA, Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter signed an official Memorandum of Understanding with FIFPro and he remarked at the time that:-
'FIFA's objective from the very beginning has been to include all the members of the family of football. With FIFPro's participation, the players' interests will be well represented. Throughout these long negotiations, I have come to respect FIFPro's leadership, and I look forward to continue working with them on other football issues.'
"The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs is in full agreement with the mandate to ‘include all members of the family of football’ in the development of the game. It is for this reason we also gave our wholehearted support last year to the Veteran Footballers Foundation. We believe that our football pioneers also have an important role to play and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. They are the ones who laid the foundation for whatever success has been achieved in recent times and their contributions should never be forgotten.
"In representing the players of today, FPATT must therefore ensure that their members preserve this legacy. They must insist that all players especially those who represent Trinidad and Tobago conduct themselves in a manner befitting national representatives. They must demand discipline at all times as well as an unswerving commitment to professionalism. If they can accomplish this then FPATT would have provided a great service not only to the game but to the wider society as well. The pursuit of this goal is also a major reason for the Ministry’s support and we expect that FPATT will fully embrace this challenge.
"On behalf of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, I extend best wishes to the Football Players Association and the wider football fraternity for a successful 2009.
"I would also at this time like to wish Ms. Tamara Watson a speedy recovery."