Letter to the Sports Editor
I was fortunate to be selected by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) to represent Guyana at the 3rd Commonwealth Sports Development Conference which was held in Glasgow, Scotland, at the Mitchell Library during the period June 2-4, 2010.
The Theme for the conference was “Achieving Sustainable Development – Building Capacity in Communities, Clubs and NGOs”.
Approximately two hundred and fifty (250) delegates attended from about sixty-five (65) countries and a number of International global organisations.
Some of the organisations in attendance were: Youth Sports Foundation of Nigeria, SCORE International of South Africa, Edusport Foundation, Homeless World Cup, Magic Bus – India and UK, Women Win, Sport for Change – Comic Relief, Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA Zone VI), Nonprofit Enterprise and Self-sustainability Team (NESsT), just to name a few.
Some notable speakers and presenters were Mr Fred Coalter, Professor of Sports Policy, University of Sterling, Ms Louise Martin CBE, Chair, sportscotland, Ms Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, Deputy Secretary-General, Commonwealth Secretariat, Mr Mike Fennel OJ, CD, President, Commonwealth Games Federation,  Mr Seren Moller, President, Danish Gymnastics & Sports Associations, Mr Colin Higgs, Consultant to Commonwealth Games Canada: Professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland (retired), Mel Young, {President and CEO, Homeless World Cup, Mr Archie Graham, Deputy Leader, Glasgow City Council and Ms Leigh Robinson, Professor of Sport Management, University of Sterling, Mr Hikabwa Decius Chipande, Project Officer, Sport Education and Accreditation System (SEAS) Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) Zone VI, and Ms Annemarie Elsom, International Grants Officer, Sport for Change, Comic Relief, just to name a few. In all there were twenty-nine (29) speakers and presenters.
My attendance at the conference brought me to the realisation that in the Developed and Developing World, Sports is serious and big business and if Guyana is to make an Impact in the World of Sports some drastic and serious changes have to be made.
We need to understand that Sport is a way of minimising crime in troubled communities; it can also be used as a method of sensitising the participants of the deadly sexual diseases that are prevailing in the society, teenage pregnancies, early school drop-outs and a host of other unwanted distractions which hinder development in a positive way. In general, sport is a means of alleviating poverty. 
The Government, the Public and Private Sector, NGOs and all the Sporting Organisations and Clubs have to rethink how they treat and deal with sports.
Community Development was one of the widely spoken topics. Recruiting, Training and Retaining Volunteers also featured a lot. Developing Coach Education Frameworks; Developing Sport in the Commonwealth; Models for Sustainability of Sport for Developing Organisations; Investing in Sport for Development; Developing International Networks for Inclusive Sport were some of the major topics discussed.
Sports in the Guyana context in my view, is not taken seriously. If we in Guyana are to progress and become a power in the Caribbean and eventually the Commonwealth, facilities have to be upgraded and erected and more qualified coaches are needed. Scotland is due to host The Commonwealth Games in 2014 and the legacy that will be left behind is phenomenal.
Facilities are being constructed for Athletics, Cycling, Swimming and Hockey just to name a few. A Games Village is being constructed, roads are being upgraded and the list goes on and on.
We in Guyana must reintroduce the Guyana Games which saw the best Athletes representing the ten (10) administrative regions in a number of sporting disciplines. These games will ultimately improve the environment and see the upgrading of facilities within the specific area which is hosting the Games.
These facilities will then be used by the Community. One of the lecturers at the Conference said, “Always involve the Community when developing projects. Don’t do it for the Community, do it with the Community.”
With the erecting of multiple sports facilities throughout Guyana, we can host multiple international sporting events which will contribute towards the development of the country and sports, more jobs will be created, businesses will benefit, etc.
The question of money will always be a sore point, sports has to be seen as an investment with the rewards coming later. Millions of dollars are being spent on roads, electricity, bridges, housing, sea defence, etc, etc.
All of the foregoing are very important in a developing country, Sports should and must be categorised among those area.
In closing I would like to say that this will be the first in a series of letters which I intend to pen with regards to my experience and what I learnt while in Scotland. 
Donald Trump once said “Sometimes your best investments are the ones you don’t make”.
Thank you and may God bless.