This title above could almost be classified as an oxymoron as we usually use them interchangeably when speaking of cricket, athletics, football, basketball, tennis or what have you. But it has become very clear to me when we in Dominica are exposed to Jamaica's RE TV who use the motto: "No Games, Just Sports" that clearly, there really is a difference between the two.

In Dominica our level of seriousness and organization by clubs, associations and government, easily indicates that for us this is just a game. Look at the quality of football surfaces our children play premier leagues on; it's heart-wrenching. The dust bowls that national players recreate on, the potholes, undulated grounds, muddy fields, grass-less surfaces that MARPIN 2K4 beam into our living rooms night after night bear testimony. The irony is that there is high praise for Luan Gabriel and of course Shane Shillingford and immediately afterwards we hear the athletics association representative literally crying out for funds to send a youthful team of 10 to CARIFTA games. Probably we should rechristen this to "CARIFTA Sports" because really it's not supposed to be the games we play with our youth every year with fancy speeches and promises. In contrast when we look at the importance and emphasis that Jamaica places on its youth and sports, most youths in Dominica must feel a sense of pessimism…of hopelessness. Grenada is another country which does not play games with its sports.

Imagine Dominica has no amusement park that families can bring their toddlers to recreate! There once was a "Merry Go Round"; now, one has to resort to playing at your own risk at Brizee Mart! This is already a red flag that signals a total lack of concern for youth, sports, family life and healthy living.

Still, apart for personalities of Q95, no other station or journalist or even the leadership of the National Youth Council, who chastised me two years ago for pointing out certain negative behaviour, found it fitting to cry foul on the authorities for allowing our youth to be placed in such a predicament notwithstanding the outcome.

None will praise Matt and Q95 for not just bringing the issue to light but for doing something about it; raising much-needed funds as they have done time and time again for medical and other such needy cases for years on end. True they may never make Kamala's "Movers and Shakers" list but at least give Jack his jacket. When Angelo, Lennox or Blessings are falling short of what is expected, I have taken issue but on this CARIFESTA issue and the frequent difficulties that our youth experience annually and the poor facilities (with the exception of the Stadium for major games) for sports should be of concern to any Dominican.

It is unfortunate that maybe many persons who have to make these decisions never rose to national prominence in sport and so cannot identify with the frustration of youth after training for several months only to be told "no ticket to travel". Well, I have, in my day and I was also fortunate to have siblings who represented the country. Oh, how I miss the DGS Sports Day activities, a massive event every year on the island's calendar.

In those days it was not a game. It was a test of skill, pride among the Houses and endurance and great entertainment to see the Shillingford family, multi-talented Lawrence brothers, Goodwill's Jeffery Timothy, Edward Lawrence, Irvin Guye, the Alcid brothers and Jerome Romaine of Portsmouth, in the sand pit events and SMA's Ian Blanchard and Julius Daley that long distance runner and also Randy Shillingford or Brent Evans in pole vaulting activities. Emmanuel Loblack, Ossie Savarin and Brother Germaine were important as coaches four decades ago and believe me even then, it was no game, but hard fought sports.

It is because I am aware of the potential that existed then and I now heed the cry of the youth who are literally fed up with public pronouncements of begging for funds to send them to represent the country that has moved me as a composer to write the following lyrics for Ghetto Prince, who unfortunately could not take the stage this year in the Calypso Finals due to illness.

I trust that the lyrics, will move others to act or lobby, budget and plan for the youth as sports is not only entertainment but defines and profiles the aspiration of a people, just as the performing arts (that we commented on last week), can translate to financial returns for a country, more than any leader can.

No Games, Just Sports
This title above could almost be classified as an oxymoron as we usually use them interchangeably when speaking of cricket, athletics, football, basketball, tennis or what have you. But it has become very clear to me when we in Dominica are exposed to Jamaica's RE TV who use the motto: "No Games, Just Sports" that clearly, there really is a difference between the two.

In Dominica our level of seriousness and organization by clubs, associations and government, easily indicates that for us this is just a game. Look at the quality of football surfaces our children play premier leagues on; it's heart-wrenching. The dust bowls that national players recreate on, the potholes, undulated grounds, muddy fields, grass-less surfaces that MARPIN 2K4 beam into our living rooms night after night bear testimony. The irony is that there is high praise for Luan Gabriel and of course Shane Shillingford and immediately afterwards we hear the athletics association representative literally crying out for funds to send a youthful team of 10 to CARIFTA games. Probably we should rechristen this to "CARIFTA Sports" because really it's not supposed to be the games we play with our youth every year with fancy speeches and promises. In contrast when we look at the importance and emphasis that Jamaica places on its youth and sports, most youths in Dominica must feel a sense of pessimism…of hopelessness. Grenada is another country which does not play games with its sports.

Imagine Dominica has no amusement park that families can bring their toddlers to recreate! There once was a "Merry Go Round"; now, one has to resort to playing at your own risk at Brizee Mart! This is already a red flag that signals a total lack of concern for youth, sports, family life and healthy living.

Still, apart for personalities of Q95, no other station or journalist or even the leadership of the National Youth Council, who chastised me two years ago for pointing out certain negative behaviour, found it fitting to cry foul on the authorities for allowing our youth to be placed in such a predicament notwithstanding the outcome.

None will praise Matt and Q95 for not just bringing the issue to light but for doing something about it; raising much-needed funds as they have done time and time again for medical and other such needy cases for years on end. True they may never make Kamala's "Movers and Shakers" list but at least give Jack his jacket. When Angelo, Lennox or Blessings are falling short of what is expected, I have taken issue but on this CARIFESTA issue and the frequent difficulties that our youth experience annually and the poor facilities (with the exception of the Stadium for major games) for sports should be of concern to any Dominican.

It is unfortunate that maybe many persons who have to make these decisions never rose to national prominence in sport and so cannot identify with the frustration of youth after training for several months only to be told "no ticket to travel". Well, I have, in my day and I was also fortunate to have siblings who represented the country. Oh, how I miss the DGS Sports Day activities, a massive event every year on the island's calendar.

In those days it was not a game. It was a test of skill, pride among the Houses and endurance and great entertainment to see the Shillingford family, multi-talented Lawrence brothers, Goodwill's Jeffery Timothy, Edward Lawrence, Irvin Guye, the Alcid brothers and Jerome Romaine of Portsmouth, in the sand pit events and SMA's Ian Blanchard and Julius Daley that long distance runner and also Randy Shillingford or Brent Evans in pole vaulting activities. Emmanuel Loblack, Ossie Savarin and Brother Germaine were important as coaches four decades ago and believe me even then, it was no game, but hard fought sports.

It is because I am aware of the potential that existed then and I now heed the cry of the youth who are literally fed up with public pronouncements of begging for funds to send them to represent the country that has moved me as a composer to write the following lyrics for Ghetto Prince, who unfortunately could not take the stage this year in the Calypso Finals due to illness.

I trust that the lyrics, will move others to act or lobby, budget and plan for the youth as sports is not only entertainment but defines and profiles the aspiration of a people, just as the performing arts (that we commented on last week), can translate to financial returns for a country, more than any leader can.

In de same sport

*While we fighting each other down Other countries keep moving on and on With serious programs to improve their nation We must take a cue from jamaica and sister grenada See how sport can bring some recognition In the 70s there was so much promise Before we turn winsor park jurrasic A generation of sports men gone While we fight to head sports associations

Refrain But since i know this country-sports in de same spot Things regress if you ask me- sports in de same spot No tennis court in we city- sports in de same spot No indoor facility- sports in de same spot We produce luaan gabriel and jerome romaine Now we have more officials in de olympic games Since i know this country- sports in de same spot Sports men still cant get time off -sports in de same spot

The buzz word is eco tourism But what about sports tourism To help put this nation on de map We underestimate youth resource And never ever consider much What a kirani james or bolt could do for us I remember chinee, cocoa shoe and mikes Sprags and roho when football was tight Now no practice fields in roseau So where you expect the young people to go

Refrain Yes since i know this country- sports in de same spot Everyone done gone pass we- sports in de same spot Inadequate sporting programs- sports in de same spot Youths running with their pants down- sports in de same spot

And the weakest minister in every party Is always thrown in sports and culture constantly Since i know this country- sports in de same spot No sense of pride or history- sports in de same spot *