St Kitts and Nevis to become ‘role model for other Commonwealth countries’ with National Sport Policy
Members of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Sport for Development and Peace team, along with appointed advisers from the Thuso Group, met with Hon Samal Mojah Duggins, Minister for Sport and Culture (Creative Industries), Secretary of State Valencia Syder and members of the National Sports Council (NSC) in Saint Kitts and Nevis to support the implementation of the country’s national sports policy.
The Caribbean nation has recently begun to advance the implementation of the National Sport Policy and Strategic Plan 2022-2026, which aims to improve citizen participation in sport and physical activity, expand the role and influence of sport in various sectors, and promote the professional development of athletes.
It also sets out the commitments of public and private actors to work together to use sport as an effective tool for sustainable development, peace-building and improving health outcomes.
The Commonwealth Secretariat has provided technical support for the implementation of the National Sports Policy, which was initially due to be introduced in 2020 but has been delayed due to COVID-19.
At a press conference on Thursday, February 9th, media representatives were informed about the ambitious goals.
Ahead of the launch, Mr Layne Robinson, Head of Social Policy Development, Directorate for Business, Youth and Sustainable Development (EYSD) at the Commonwealth Secretariat said:
“The Commonwealth believes that Sport for Development and Peace, when properly used and supported, can help improve health and education, create jobs, stimulate economic development and achieve human rights and gender equality.
“Our work in St Kitts and Nevis to strengthen the national sport policy and strategic plan should accelerate the benefits to be gained from investing in sport.
“With the support of government and stakeholders, we believe St Kitts and Nevis can become a model for other Commonwealth countries on how to effectively harness the power of sport for development and peace. We look forward to the next steps of our technical support. “
The National Sport Plan will have a profound impact on the health of the citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Currently, 80% of morbidity and mortality in the islands results from “lifestyle”-related non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes – a more active community has the potential to significantly ease the pressure on health services and minimize the incidence of preventable deaths .
Likewise, the policy is consistent with recent initiatives to strengthen health and wellness offerings in schools across the country and to capitalize on revenue-generating opportunities through sports tourism and recreation.
The policy also aims to maximize opportunities for top St Kitts and Nevis athletes, building on the achievements of Olympians such as Kim Collins, Jason Rogers, Amya Clarke, Antoine Adams, Lestrod Rowland, Diane Dunrod, Tameka Williams and Brijesh Lawrence builds up. to ensure that future generations of athletes can excel on the world stage.
The National Sport Council of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Department of Sport, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Marine Resources and Cooperatives, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Sport and Creative Industries and the Commonwealth Secretariat, relying on the technical expertise of Thuso Group , are now ready to start rolling out the policy, with clear targets for the next five years.
Alongside the launch of the plan, the National Sports Council, chaired by Mr. Glenn Quinlan, convened a stakeholder meeting to discuss the coordination and implementation of national sports policy.
Hon Duggins said:
“Sport is crucial for a holistic development of the country.
“I would like to highlight my department’s achievements to date in terms of the full implementation of national sport policy. This includes developing a clear policy and adopting a theory of change – a clear roadmap has been established, a results-oriented framework is in place and tools have been made available to implement national sport policy.
HE Dame Marcella Althea Liburd, GCMG, JP, Governor General of St Kitts and Nevis said: “It is indeed very positive to see such a range of stakeholders from both the islands of St Kitts and Nevis brought together by the National Sports Council has been, at the behest of our Government and with the support of the Commonwealth Secretariat, to advance the implementation of the National Sport Policy, which has far-reaching implications for the health, well-being, fitness and performance of the citizens of our nation.”
dr Lin Sambili-Gicheha, Project Manager, Team Sport for Development and Peace, Commonwealth Secretariat, who worked on the ground with the broader team, added:
“As a Commonwealth Secretariat officer on the ground for this mission to St Kitts and Nevis, it was a privilege to witness the commitment of local stakeholders to the implementation of the policy and to identify sport as one of the most prominent elements of the Commonwealth; it represents an important thread in the rich tapestry of our traditions.
Sport is a key element of the activities of the 2023 Commonwealth Year of Youth and the forthcoming Commonwealth NCD strategy. In addition, I was particularly pleased to introduce key stakeholders to the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), a free capacity-building resource on sport for sustainable development developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the International Platform for Sport and Development (sportanddev ) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).”
The MOOC is available here for all government and sport sector representatives.
media contact
- Amy Coles Communications Officer, Communications Department, Commonwealth Secretariat