By Neto Baptiste
Incoming Commissioner of Sports Dr. Colin Greene said that although he would like to have government’s full support once he officially assumes the post in August, his goal is to make meaningful changes to the sporting landscape in Antigua and Barbuda with or without the deep pockets of the administration.
Greene was responding to questions regarding the government’s commitment to funding initiatives and or projects suggested via his office.
“I don’t know that I am very confident. I have spoken to the minister [Daryll Matthew] and he has pledged that he wants to go in that direction and I have no reasons to disbelieve him. But I also understand and my background tells me that you can make change without even having resources because I am a school principal and I have never known a time when anyone has given us resources towards sports; schools don’t get a dollar. So if that was the vibe that you weren’t going to do anything because you didn’t get the resources, then fine,” he said.
“I suspect, from the conversations I’ve had from the minister, that he is willing to go in that direction and so, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. We also have to believe as well that if that doesn’t happen where the support doesn’t come, you have to find your own support and you have to get out of that box and do what you have to do,” he added.
Cabinet recently announced that Greene, who will leave his position as Principal of the Princess Margaret School, will take on the role previously earmarked for former West Indies cricketer Sir Richie Richardson.
Greene was adamant that it cannot be business as usual.
“There has to be a re-envisioning of how, in the long term, sports is going to be financed because if we are going to finance it in the same way we are doing it now, then we are going to fall behind even in the availability of funding and the access to funding.
“I think that in the long term, not tomorrow, because for the first time in my life, I am going to be reporting directly to a politician so I have to get accustomed to that. I have been a loose cannon all my life so now I have to temper myself. You could have all the ideas in the world but you have to show respect to who is in authority and you have to share that and you have to work with people to get to those goals,” he said.
Dr Greene is set to officially take up the post on August 1. Popular sports journalist Joel Rayne was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Sports in March.
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