According to a recent report in one of the daily newspapers obesity is crushing this country’s health sector, social services sector, people’s wallet and in general it is a problem that ought to be viewed as a national issue.
And what is worse, is the fact that childhood obesity is an emerging phenomenon in this country of roughly 1.3 million people, which Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh recently termed a “national crisis”.
Obesity and the reduction in physical activity is a chicken that will come home to roost in the near future. The social, economic and quality of life impact will be negative and far reaching.
The often repeated declaration that sport can be used to empower the children and youth of the nation is not getting traction in any meaningful way. Its with a sense of frustration even bewilderment when the topic is raised. Why isn’t definitive measures in place to use sport more.
I have long given up trying to arrive at a plausible explanation. The simple reply: it is what it is with a shrug of the shoulders.
Ask anyone who is really striving to make a contribution to a better life in T&T.
There are so many things that can be done that will not cause millions of dollars.
Its as if as a people and a society we are locked in a self destructive vortex and mindset.
Inundated by negative headlines and utterances we seem helpless and hopeless as the freefall seems irreversible.
Conversations in T&T tend to be unfulfilling.
All we talk about is whats wrong and bad.
Yet we expect to empower of youth and inspire and motivate them to be better.
When the stark truth is most of what is taking place defies commonsense.
But in all of this dark gloom. There are sparks of hope and resilience.
T&T arise .
Islands of the blue Caribbean sea this our native land we pledge our lives to thee.
Forged from the love of liberty. This our native land.
What are we doing individually and collectively to our beloved twin Island?
Discipline Tolerance and Production.
If as a people, a society, a community and a country we live by those words we will inspite of all the ups and downs build and create a better nation and leave -as we all must-a better T&T for the next and future generations.
Sport as all other sectors can make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of T&T.
Two elements of sport that can be easily lost in the understandable focus on the high performance aspect and all the negativity surrounding doping and poor governance. Are the values of volunteerism and active citizenship that a lifelong involvement in sport can foster.
Volunteerism-without volunteers sport will collapse.
Non Government Organisations (NGOS ) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
It can be argued that a spirit of volunteerism is closely tied to a spirit of patriotism and community.
Its easy to say but harder to manifest. In unity there is strength and it is only by uniting around a common cause and shared vision that we can make Trinidad and Tobago a better place.
Side by side we stand. Here every creed and race find an equal place.
Rise and shine Trinidad and Tobago.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Brian Lewis is the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC). The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Olympic Committee. Support #10 Golds24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund make your donations to any branch of Scotiabank account number #171188.