Interview with principal secretary for youth and sports Fabian Palmyre |08 January 2020

PS Palmyre

‘We’ve never had a history of compliancy and people got so comfortable they adopted a laissez-faire attitude at all levels of sports governance’

With the new sporting season set to begin soon, it is important that the authority tightens its grip to ensure the proper running of sports, thus taking action against those who are governing against the rules, as well as those who are failing to deliver their designated and assigned duties.

Despite some good performances by our dedicated athletes, it is worth noting that 2019 has not been that good, in terms of sports management and delivery on the part of both the National Sports Council (NSC) and the different associations and federations.

Someone who is determined to remedy the situation, thus putting local sports on the right track is the principal secretary for youth and sports Fabian Palmyre who has vouched to put in extra effort in 2020, along with all relevant partners, to ensure that appropriate action is taken, despite the negative impact it might bring on sports, especially the athletes who he said will have to bear the consequences, at least for a period of time.

A sports enthusiast, PS Palmyre’s presence could be seen over the past years at mostly all the sports venues, both locally and internationally, bringing his support for our local athletes.

With the recent alert regarding the high increase in the number of non-compliance cases in sports, PS Palmyre said the issue has been around for quite a while and that those responsible for governing sports at every level have got so comfortable with it, until recently when it was explained that such an issue can have a very negative impact on the country’s record on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – an inter-governmental body established in 1989 – with the objective of setting standards and promoting effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

Despite it being a drastic action and last option, PS Palmyre said to de-register all the sporting bodies which are not compliant with the laws will be the last and appropriate measures to be applied, even if it will have quite a negative impact on the country’s sporting image and sadly, on the athletes.

Despite being on his annual leave, PS Palmyre agreed to meet up with Sports NATION to talk about the 2019 sporting season and also the steps that will be taken to straighten the situation in 2020.

Sports NATION: PS Palmyre, we know you are a sports enthusiast and your presence was evident at almost all the sports venues, both locally and internationally last year. In general, how would you describe the performance of the local athletes for the 2019 sporting season?

PS Palmyre: I will say it has been quite a successful year, especially at international level, precisely the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) where the good results came from the least expected athletes. The volleyball selections, for example, were being regarded as no medal potentials. The women’s selection managed to bring home the gold medal, while the young men’s selection won the bronze, despite all the critics.

This is proof that no one can hold a country hostage, despite of their ability. As long as there are athletes who are willing to train hard and play for their countries, that is the most important thing.

Other medals won also proved that our athletes are focused when it comes to defending the national flag. So, as a whole, I will describe 2019 as a good sporting year.

Sports NATION: What is your opinion on sports management in the country, at both club and national level?

PS Palmyre:I think the situation of non-compliancy is purely based on the attitude of athletes, being non-affiliated to their respective bodies.

On the Registrars’ point of view, there is no difference between executive committee members and members who are athletes. The latter are the ones with the most power and therefore are in the perfect position to run their associations by appointing the right persons to lead.

In the local context, the situation is completely different. It is the executive committee members who have all the powers and the members, or athletes just sit back and complain, without realising that they have the authority to change things.

As members, they should take their responsibility by educating themselves on what goes on within their executive committee. They should hold all the executive members accountable.

I will use the country as example where the people get what they vote for.

Sports NATION: Non-compliancy remains one of the main problems affecting local sports. Has the government identified the source, and if yes, what is the big plan to remedy the situation?

PS Palmyre:Even if it was not called compliancy as such at that time, but all federations and associations were being encouraged from way back to put all their paperwork including financial reports in order.

But most people in charge found it unnecessary, or maybe were having certain benefits in refusing to abide by the laws.

We have never had a history of compliancy and people have been getting so comfortable with it that they adopted a laissez-faire attitude at all levels of sports governance.

The problem dates from way back and even if the authority has given them sufficient time to come clean, most of the sports federations and associations did not see the necessity in doing so.

It is also a matter of a change in culture. We were previously an honest nation, but gradually people changed, especially when they noticed that they can benefit personally from their positions.

The situation dragged over the years without being noticed and now in a matter of months, we are trying to set up structures that should have taken decades to build.

Sports NATION: Again, on the issue of non-compliancy, some of the existing federations and associations are in no position to come clean since the problem has been there way before the present members took the office. It is therefore impossible for them to come up with missing paperwork needed, which will definitely result in them being struck off the list of the Registrar of Associations. Is the authority prepared to strike everybody off the list and then get them to re-register?

PS Palmyre:As a last option, yes, all in the benefits of sports and athletes. It will not be a nice image, but, it will at least bring a fresh start to local sports.

Sports NATION: With most local sporting bodies being non-compliant, do you think it is fair for their athletes to be part of the Sports Awards Scheme which targets outstanding athletes and federations?

PS Palmyre: That is a very difficult situation. On a legal point of view, I will say yes, they should not be part of it, while on the humanitarian side, it will not be fair to leave them out. The athletes have worked hard during the year and it is not humane to prevent them from reaping the fruit of their labour.

Like I said earlier, since the athletes are not directly involved with the running of the federations, in that case I will say yes, but on the other hand, it is also their responsibility to be involved and see what is going on in the running of the executive committees.

But, I can assure you that in a few years’ time if the situation does not improve, definitely the athletes will be left out.

Sports NATION: In 2019, we have seen a certain sporting federation involved in huge debt, false financial statements and frauds, resulting in the involvement of the Office of the Attorney General.

What is the authority planning to do regarding the case so that the sport in particular can resume?

PS Palmyre: There are two options. One is to wait for the verdict which might take a long time, while the sport is put on hold. The other one is to strike it off the list of the Registrar and set up a new body, while the executive committee members are held accountable for all the charges.

Either way, there will be a negative impact on the sport and the country internationally. But, again, for the benefit of sports and the athletes, the authority is prepared to take the best action, after consultations with athletes and all those involved in the sport.

Interview conducted by Roland Duval