Arrogance that pervades political, administrative power (Pt 1)

Dear Editor,
Firstly, let me clear my debt to Cicero by thanking him for crystallizing the four Cardinal Virtues: Justice, Wisdom, Courage and Temperance. Courage, in my opinion, is the greatest virtue, and underpins all other virtues; yet lack of temperance is the most challenging of virtues to inculcate into your character.
The gains in character and honour from not acquiescing to ill-will, ingratitude, insolence, arrogance and disloyalty far exceed any soup one may receive from the process of grovelling and prostrating oneself to persons in high office.
The pure joy garnered from sports in terms of inspiring the masses of a nation is unparalleled; the ethos of cohesion, solidarity and connectivity is immeasurable; be it in cricket, football, basketball or any of the other sports.
To a considerable extent, certain sports are played by the underprivileged, and for these individuals, it is the platform for the building of self-confidence, opportunities to travel, self-esteem, discipline, status, love of country, development of friendships, and the perseverance to succeed. Studies have shown that participation in Sports has reduced crime, indiscipline and idle behaviour.
The Guyana Basketball Federation is at a sweating point, not a breaking point. We sent, on May 7, 2018, letters seeking funding from the Government, letters written to Minister Norton of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Minister Harmon of the Ministry of State, for Guyana’s Men and Women to participate in the 2018 Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships in Suriname from June 15-30.
By some quirk in the structure of the Government apparatus, Senior Minister Harmon is the subject Minister of Senior Minister Norton, among other Minister/s under his domain. In addition, Minister Harmon is de facto the most powerful Minister in Guyana, and his decisions can only be counteracted by President Granger, especially since he is the spokesperson for the President.
We have not received a formal response from the Government, since we hand delivered the letters to the above-mentioned Ministries on May 7th, 2018, with the letters emailed days earlier.
Of course rumours abound about my writings in the media, causing a backlash against funding for our female team, which includes: five high schoolers from President College, one from Mackenzie High School, two from St. Roses, one from Bishops, one from the Guyana Police Force, one from Marian Academy, one from Guyana School of Agriculture, two from Kwakwani under the age of twenty-three, among others.
Most of the players from the Men Squad have completed High School. Six are from Region 10, one from Region 6, and ten from Region 4; all are Guyanese born.
Aside from the great honour to play for Guyana, it is a great psychological boost and an impressive achievement to represent your country, as many of us know.
Where is the common-sense juxtaposition for my writings in the media and the failure to action letters requesting funding for national teams to represent Guyana at regional championships? For that matter, where is the logic in this protracted delay?
Over $150,000 in costs are incurred daily, just too keep the basketball squads in training. The Guyana Basketball Federation is owed $4.3 million since 2016 by the National Sports Commission (NSC). During the hosting of the U16 Caribbean Championships in Guyana, we expended more than $7.8 million on structural improvements to the Sports Hall, which the NSC Chairman and other Commissioners promised to reimburse promptly. So far, only $3.5 million has been repaid. My fervent wish for our country is that leadership from the green and red parties be forward-looking, and disavow our decades- long political culture that has been filled too often with callous vendetta and spite.

Sincerely,
Nigel Hinds