Assistant Economic Development Minister Hugh Raymond, who has responsibility for sport, confirmed that he had submitted proposals for a dedicated approach to the return of fixtures and training, having previously called on senior colleagues to provide greater clarity. Sporting officials have expressed frustration and confusion in recent weeks following the decision to allow private indoor classes and close-contact trade to restart before increasing the outdoor-gathering limit from ten people.
However, Deputy Raymond also expressed his frustration after a press statement regarding the restart of Island sport, attributed to him, did not accurately reflect his thoughts on the matter.
The statement, issued following questions asked by the JEP, stated that indoor exercise and classes had been permitted for children to support the wellbeing of children and young people. It also said that group activities featuring more than ten people remained banned because of the risks associated with household mixing in ‘uncontrolled environments’.
This came days after Deputy Raymond admitted to being perplexed by apparent inconsistencies within the reconnection strategy – and he had not yet received a full response to his earlier questions.
The statement was then replaced with one which outlined proposals for a dedicated sports reconnection framework. It will be put before the government’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell next week.
‘Following the lines that were released to the JEP, and having had emails from every direction in sport, I wasn’t satisfied with the communication from the government,’ Deputy Raymond said. ‘I felt that I ought to push a little bit more to help determine where we are actually going with sport being reconnected.
‘We now have a new sports reconnection framework, but it won’t stop here. I shall be pushing to ensure we look at regularly.’
Deputy Raymond’s concerns about the issuing of a press statement in his name come just three weeks after it emerged that government chief executive Charlie Parker approved an inaccurate release to the media regarding his accepting a non-executive directorship with a UK-based real-estate firm. The statement issued claimed that both Chief Minister John Le Fondré and Deputy Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham had approved the appointment. However, it later transpired that Senator Le Fondré had given only verbal approval rather than the written acknowledgement that Mr Parker should have sought, while Senator Farnham has said he had warned the chief executive against taking on the directorship.
Discussing the positive steps taken to restart sport, Deputy Raymond said that a ‘spring and summer’ reconnection plan could be on the horizon for clubs and associations, if approved by STAC.
‘As Minister for Sport I am keen to get outdoor team sports under way as soon as it’s safe to do so. Ministers are actively discussing this as part of our commitment to improving Islanders’ mental and physical health, and we will shortly be launching a sports reconnection gameplan. But we have to follow the proper process.
‘STAC will consider how and when it is safe to restart team sports, and they will advise Competent Authority Ministers. Once STAC and CAM agree, training sessions for children can restart and grassroots fleeting-contact sports for adults (like hockey, football, and cricket) can begin to be played.
‘The restrictions on gatherings have helped to flatten our winter curve and to protect Islanders from Covid-19. I want to make sure that the restrictions that protect us from the virus do not cause health harms in other areas. But while sport is vital to our mental and physical wellbeing, public health has to come first.
‘I want to support the health of all Islanders by restarting sports activities only when STAC advise that it is safe to do so.’
