I refer to the decision of your ministry to renew the monthly grant of Rs 20,000 to athlete Stephan Buckland who is now engaged in active politics. As I already mentioned in a press article published before the municipal elections, according to the rules of the Mauritius Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA), anybody who engages in active politics shall be expelled from the Association or the Association will not affiliate as member nor will it allow any person actively engaged in politics to form part of any of its committees or organization… Moreover, the Sports (Amendment) Act 2002 makes it clear in section10, paragraph (c) that no person shall practise any sports unless he is the holder of a licence delivered by the relevant sports federation.

Prima facie, Buckland has contravened the MAAA rules; hence the issue of a licence from that sport federation is questionable. Now, how can the ministry allow grants from public funds to somebody who is potentially ineligible for them? Are there any extensive audit tests by the High-level Sports Unit to verify that beneficiaries of such grants are indeed bona fide athletes?

Notwithstanding the fact that our Constitution protects political freedom, within prescribed limits, we must appreciate that engagement in active politics is restricted by relevant rules and regulations. However, by following the ostrich strategy towards politicians who are engaged in sports, government and sports federations are creating a dangerous precedent.

Following the same line of leniency, should we assume that Raj Gaya, another opposition candidate, will be reinstated at the Mauritius Sports Council? And, if Buckland joined politics after the government’s decision to grant him a special prize of Rs 300,000 for his feats at the recent World Athletic Championship, then there should be no delay in implementing the same decision?

It is worth noting that cyclist Thomas Desvaux has declined a monthly grant. I presume that he has a wider concept of sport and politics and should be applauded. The issue is that persons actively engaged in sport should refrain from engaging in active politics. Either it is mandatory or sportingly incorrect. As it appears that nobody is willing to bell the cat, I suggest that your ministry organises a forum enlisting all stakeholders. This may end up with sports federations initiating appropriate actions to prevent the proliferation of politicians in their midst, an athlete’s charter or the introduction of restrictive provisions concerning political matters, based on the MAAA model, in the Sports Act.

Let us not bury our heads like the ostrich and pretend not to have heard or seen anything.

<B>Raj MOONISAMY</B>