Injecting large sums of money directly into national sporting bodies will not guarantee the Island’s future success on the world stage, former top cricketer and administrator El James has claimed.

With Government having invested heavily in both cricket and football, James said he anticipates that at some point other associations will also be looking for significant handouts.

But rather than dish out large sums of money at will, the former PLP MP who is reportedly mounting a political comeback feels the taxpayer’s hard-earned dollars would be better spent on an ambitious new proposal that would see all national coaches working directly under the Ministry of Education, Sports and Recreation.

James’ initiative also calls for the development of various sports academies across the Island and the implementation of a strategic national training programme for aspiring athletes at the grassroots, club and elite levels.

“What I am suggesting is that we need to develop a national training programme and not just individual programmes for each sport. I don’t think Government should continue to throw money at sporting organisations,” he argued.

“Cricket got $11 million and football received $14 million and so that’s $25 million already earmarked. But then we have track and field, sailing, swimming, equestrians and golf and so now what happens when they make a request for funding? Do we reject them and say these are the national sports and so they are more deserving?

“I think with sports and education coming under the same portfolio anything can be achieved that will help give our young athletes some direction. And the Ministry (Education, Sports and Recreation) should be the ones responsible for developing all sport on the Island — much like they have in other countries.”

Two key components of James’ plan would involve the Ministry hiring national coaches and the development of sports academies.

“When you look at sport development locally over the years, it really hasn’t happened. We have part-time administrators who are managing full-time coaches and are responsible for millions of the taxpayer’s money,” he said.

“But to really make things effective I think that all national coaches should be hired by the Ministry and that they in turn could oversee all of the Island’s gifted young athletes in after-school academies which would come under one national elite training programme.”

James said that potential talent at both middle and senior school levels could be further developed at sports academies under the supervision of national coaches after school hours.

And he went as far as to suggest that school should begin at 8 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. so as to allow aspiring athletes sufficient time in the afternoon to focus solely on their personal development at a sports academy of their choice.

“This would help ease traffic on the streets in the morning. And not only will a national programme provide our young athletes with sporting ability, but it would also increase their chances of receiving school scholarships or progressing to the professional level,” he added.

“With this attitude and that type of development all of our young athletes will be head and shoulders above most youngsters their age. Bermuda would be under the microscope with the rest of the world looking to us for talented athletes much like what you see today with Korea who are producing a lot of golfers.”

James said all national coaches would be able to identify and monitor potential athletic ability at the elementary or grass roots levels, adding that young athletes could then be nurtured at the club level until they reach the ripe age to enrol in a sports academy where they would receive advanced training.

“Prior to the afternoon session I think coaches (full-time) can go into the primary schools and work with the students up till the time they have to engage with the elite athletes from the Middle and Senior schools.

“This would also enable coaches to work at the elementary level where they will be able to recognise the talent,” he explained.

“International sport is not beyond our realm and the development will start from the school and club levels and continue right along through to the national level.

“And everyone will have to work hand in hand to help our young athletes aspire to the national level and beyond because at the moment I don’t think they are reaching their full potential.

“I think we can expect great things if we focus on going to the next level because cricket has made us realise that it is possible, not only to qualify, but also to compete on the world stage.”

And with the infrastructure already in place, James believes existing facilities could also accommodate various sports academies.

“I think Bermuda is ideally situated to become a sporting Mecca because we already have the facilities here that we can turn into sports academies, facilities such as the National Sports Centre (NSC), White’s Island (sailing) and the three Government owned golf courses,” he suggested.

“I think it’s very important we instil in our athletes that they can go out there and compete with the rest of the world. And if we can achieve something like this then I think we will give our youngsters — particularly our young males — something to look at and also strive for.

“I think that a national programme such as this would make a positive impact on the whole community, and needless to say help put us on the international map.”