Mr.
President, the May Day Sports should be revisited by introducing affordable fee
for participation for government departments, parastatals and private
institutions. This year, some government departments and parastatals will not
participate in the yearly sports activity due to high fee. Government should
look into that matter to ensure that more departments and institutions
participate to maintain the spirit of togetherness.
Mr.
President, the May Day Sports was conceived in February 1991 by Mr. George
Gomez, then the Executive Secretary of the Gambia National Olympic and Sports
Committee and was started in May of that year. At the first edition in 1991
only 12 companies participated and the registration/participation fee was
D1000.00. The idea behind the sport was
1. To encourage the working population to
use sports and physical exercise as a means of keeping fit.
2. To encourage friendly relationship
among the workers in the different fields of the economy.
3. To ensure a healthy and peaceful
environment for a friendly and enjoyable sports competition among the workers
of the country thereby creating a good relationship among each other.
The
Organisers have always asked each participant to try and speak to two people
they have never spoken to from a company different from theirs and befriend
them.
In
1998 the Sports Awards was introduced and attached to the May Day sports
arrangements. The participation fee was adjusted to D8000.00 and later to
D10000.00 to cover the cost of the dinner and dance when certificates for the
Sports and honouring our Sports men in the Sports Hall of Fame.
The
May Day sports is a unique event which has been acclaimed even by the
International Olympic Committee (IOC). In 1994 the National Olympic Committees
of Africa (ANOCA). invited the Gambia to present the May Day Sports to the
African Secretaries General at their annual general meeting in Central African
Republic and their Secretary General came to Gambia in 1995 to see the Sports.
The
IOC approved the event as a suitable Mass Sports and sponsored it under the
Mass Sports program in 1992 and in 1995.
This
event is now the biggest Mass sports in the Gambia and has attracted several
companies to participate in it. It is an avenue for workers to get together to
know each other and use the period leading to and following training to keep
fit. A fit Nation is a productive Nation. Since the advent of May Day Sports
numerous people have taken to the many Gyms in the country and the level of
fitness has increased much to the delight of workers. It is therefore necessary
to maintain the event.
In
my honest view since the National Sports Council is no longer giving awards to
deserving Sportsmen, the May Day Sports dinner should be stopped and the
participation fee for the May Day Sports be reduced from D20,000 to D10,000 to
make it attractive for many companies to participate in what is a unique event
special only to the Gambia.
Mr.
President when GNOC was organising May Day Sports1991 to 2011 all proceeds for
the dinner were given to the athletes for their preparations.
Mr.
President without finance we cannot get achieve good results. Sports in the
Gambia are lacking behind. Government should look into the problems and solve
them. Put the right people to the right place.
Mr.
President how far your government request with the GSMs to contribute 5%
percent in sport development, engage them to act. Sport is no longer leisure
but investment. The Chinese can help to build more stadia and renovate the
independence stadium.
Government
cannot to do all but for sports, businessmen and GSMs can help.
Finally,
Mr. President, May 3rd will be World Press Freedom Day, your government should
participate fully. For the success of the event, we are partners in
development. Media draconian laws should be abolished. Government institutions
should pay their bills of adverts and subscriptions in time, it takes months
before they pay and these hamper our productions. We are here to promote
democracy rule of law good governance. We also represent voiceless people.
Many
francophone countries help the press through subvention and minimise taxes
because of the key role they play in society.
Mr.
President since you are in power last year, there was only one incident with
security forces with the press on Monday April 23, when some PIU personnel
assaulted The Point judicial reporter, Bruce Asemota, who was covering NI A9
case at the High Court. This should not occur again. We are not enemies but
partners in development. Let sit down and talk to resolve misunderstandings
among ourselves.
Good
day!