THE lack of an adequate sport policy at the University of Guyana has been affecting the institution’s performance at various sport levels and disciplines. This is the view expressed by the Sport Organiser, Lavern Fraser, in an Interview recently. She stated that there is one basic course of action that can be taken to correct this deficiency. “Our way forward is to have a policy in place. We have a lot of athletes not just track and field. I’m talking basketball, swimming, table tennis, all the sport you can think about. However, because there is no policy in place as to what it is these athletes can benefit from as a result of, maybe leaving a club they might have been a member of and representing the university. That has really been our biggest challenge.”
The Sport Organiser has indicated that these issues are further compounded by the lack of proper scholarships and programmes; much like in the case at the regional and international universities. Fraser further added that students who complete secondary education in physical education have no place to further their studies and specialise.
She said, “Physical education is now being offered at CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) and at ‘A’ Level across the Caribbean and I think the University of Guyana is the only university within this region that does not offer courses in sports, so that if you have a student who is really interested in getting involved in any aspect of sports, regardless of if it’s sport administration, sport medicine or journalism, we don’t have anything in place to offer them that.”
The long-time sport administrator added that there should be a system of extra credit for athletes of Guyana’s premier educational facility, noting that current students only get an extra curricula transcript, dependent on their level of participation. She said since her acceptance of the duties one year ago, plans to get a draft policy approved have been stymied due to the politics on campus and she is hoping for a fresh burst of enthusiasm in the coming days.

By Stephan Sookram