Report: Launch of the historic Inaugural Caribbean ICHPER.SD Congress in Trinidad and Tobago
A gala ceremony was held yesterday evening at the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre to launch the Inaugural Caribbean Congress and Exposition of the International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance (ICHPER.SD).
The event was well attended by dignitaries and members of the local, regional and international sporting fraternity which included, inter alia, seven keynote speakers and many other professionals and experts who will be making their various presentations over the course of next four days as they deliberate on the many relevant and important issues during this historic meeting.
Chaired by Mark Mungal of the Academy of Sports and Leisure Studies (ASLS) of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), and President of Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education (TTASPE), the evening’s function rolled on smartly and smoothly as he introduced members of the head table comprising The Honorable Gary Hunt, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs (MSYA), Government of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Dong Ja Yang, President of ICHPER.SD, the Provost of the University of Trinidad and Tobago, Professor David McGaw, the legendary West Indies Cricketer, Gordon Greenidge, and Mr. Kenneth Butcher, Vice President of ICHPER.SD Caribbean Chapter, and Executive Manager of ASLS. The speakers were presented following a short and crisp video clip depicting the successes and achievement, of the institutions they represented.
First to take the podium was UTT Provost, Professor David McGaw, who conveyed apologies from UTT President Professor Kenneth Julien who was out of the country and regrettably was not able to attend the ceremony. Provost McGaw extended a hearty welcome to Trinidad and Tobago to all the visiting delegates at the Congress expressing his hope that they will be stimulated by the presentations and interactions during the Congress and will also have the opportunity to experience Trinidad and Tobago afterwards.
He then expressed how pleased and honoured the University of Trinidad and Tobago was to host this Congress as he gave a brief overview of the significant work being done at UTT, which he pointed out is quite young, less than five years in existence. He elaborated on the evolution of UTT which manifested itself in October 2004 from a well perceived need to continue and expand the engineering based programmes of the then Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Technology with 1300 students.
Provost McGaw informed his attentive audience that since that time the UTT has branched out into new programme areas including Education, Maritime Training, Agriculture, Fashion and Design and Sports and Leisure. Further expansion is in the process to introduce programmes in the Performing Arts. The introduction of programmes in Criminology and Public Safety is being actively contemplated, he said.
Professor McGaw stated that the key consideration in everything that is done at UTT is towards fulfilling national needs which he said could be extended towards the broader, Caribbean region, i.e. National and Regional development. In the area of Research the UTT has initiated programmes in the Natural Gas Institute, Energy Studies (Renewable Energy) Herbal Institute, Manufacturing and Agriculture and Sports Studies. He also spoke of the significant work that is being undertaken by the Academy for Arts, Letters, Culture and Public Affairs where the research in local culture is presented through the very successful Public Lecture Series.
All these activities are taking place at the eight UTT campuses spread throughout the country where almost 6,500 students are registered in the current academic year with the expectation that this number will increase by one thousand to 7,500 for the next academic year starting in September 2009. Provost McGaw said that all levels of tertiary education are being taught at UTT starting from undergraduate degrees to post graduate/doctoral programmes.
Provost McGaw concluded by speaking of the University’s commitment to ongoing development of the programmes and collaborating with institutions locally, regionally and globally to mutual benefit.
The President of ICHPER.SD, Dr. Dong Ja Yang was the second speaker. He thanked Kenneth Butcher, Mark Mungal and the local organizing committee members for organizing such a historic Congress while he also thanked members of the ICHPER.SD Executive Committee, keynote speakers, presenters at the oral, poster seminar and workshop sessions, exhibitors, and Congress participants for their attendance.
Dr. Yang referred to the Congress theme – “Building a Caribbean Legacy for Sport and Physical Education” which he said is an actualization of the longstanding dream held by leading HPERSD professionals and administrators in the Caribbean region and ICHPER.SD as a whole. This theme, he said, mandates the need for a vibrant sustainability that will, year after year, serve the health and wellbeing of the citizens in this region. He elaborated further by saying the theme encapsulates the great purpose of this gathering, that is, the challenge to bring together – HPERSD professionals, institutions and organizations in the Caribbean region, to build a regional solidarity for the delivery of school-based Quality Physical Education for the Whole Child or Person – including the complete domain of Physical, Mental and Moral Education for All Children and Youth, both Girls and Boys. Dr. Yang believes it is a timely call to reinvigorate ICHPER.SD’s mission not only for Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region, but for the world.
The President of ICHPER.SD spoke of his organization which he described as one of the oldest and largest international alliances of HPERSD professionals and organizations in the world. Since the founding of the organization in 1958, some 31 World Congresses have been held under its auspices. 4 ICHPER.SD African regional congresses; 5 Asia regional congresses; 11 Europe regional congresses; 5 Latin America regional congresses; 4 Middle East regional congresses; 1 Oceania regional congress; and 2 North America and Caribbean regional congresses have been held to date. There have also been 16 North America regional forums and conferences in conjunction with the Annual Conventions of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) held in the United States. We have now assembled here to add to the Council’s legacy with the Inaugural ICHPER.SD Caribbean Regional Congress and Exposition, stated Dr. Yang.
These meetings have been organized in a sustainable and consistently timely fashion which Dr. Yang says is due to ”the firm belief that through these congresses, our dimension of knowledge is highlighted and expanded, our search for wisdom advanced, our depth of understanding deepened, and our inquiries in science answered. Through these congresses, we are in a better position to serve our profession and our programme beneficiaries in each of our respective country, region and worldwide”.
The ICHPER.SD President then offered a note of appreciation by saying, “ICHPER.SD members and associates worldwide and especially ICHPER.SD Caribbean members truly are so grateful to His Excellency the Prime Minister Mr. Patrick Manning, and Honourable Professor Dr. Kenneth Julien, the President of the University of Trinidad and Tobago, whose intuition and spectrum of understanding are truly limitless. Those students studying to better their lives and the faculty and staff pursuing their dreams guided by the leadership of UTT President are truly blessed!! We convey our heartfelt gratitude to you”.
Dr. Dong Ja Yang concluded with a personal note as he said, “Having visited many times the cities and natural treasures of these beautiful islands, Trinidad and Tobago, I would like to live here, I really mean it, with the people whose caring hearts and warm welcoming personalities are indeed a national treasure. We thank you for inviting us to join with you under the able leadership of the UTT Organizing Committee and the proud banner of the Inaugural ICHPER.SD Caribbean Regional Congress and Exposition!!!”
An air of excitement was created in the audience as a video clip was presented featuring the legendary cricketer Gordon Greenidge, the Guest Speaker for the evening’s ceremony. He began his thought provoking address by defining the theme of the Congress, ‘Building a Caribbean Legacy for Sport and Physical Education’ as he said, “Legacies are about life and living, they are about learning from the past, living in the present, and building for the future.” A legacy, said Greenidge, is fundamental to what it is to be human. Research shows that without a sense of working to create a legacy, one tends to lose meaning in their life. Exploring the idea of legacy offers a glimpse not only into human relationships and building strong communities, but also a human spirit, suggested the ace batsman of yore. From a purely practical standpoint, said Greenidge, “if you don’t pass on your life experience by having a legacy, the wisdom you have gained through decades of difficult learning will disappear as your physical body wears out”. He urged his rapt audience to reflect on how fortunate we are in the Caribbean to have a rich history in Sports and the Life enhancing legacy left to inspire the youngsters.
Referring to football, the cricketer spoke of the great improvement that has been made in the game since the combined West Indies team’s tour to England in 1958 and the success of Trinidad and Tobago teams and the Jamaican teams in World Cup Football. He also mentioned the achievement of Jack Warner as a football administrator. “We have had the privilege of an influx of black footballers in English and European Leagues”, he reminded his audience. In the area of Athletics, the affable Greenidge referred to the success of Jamaica way back in 1948 with the gold medal team 4 x 400, followed by many others and the latest to date as “we all know Bolt, let us not forget Crawford from Trinidad for his 100 metre in Montreal in 1976”.
Speaking of other Caribbean successes, Greenidge said, “Cuba is well known for Baseball, we have Suki King of Barbados who has held the World Draughts Championship for 20 years, we have in Cycling Roger Gibbons, and in Golf, Stephen Ames.” In Horse racing there is Michael Stoute, one of the greatest trainers in the world, and jockey Patrick Husbands, to name just a couple from a long list of Caribbean achievers in the sporting arena.
Greenidge then shifted his focus on to the wonderful game of Cricket which he described as his ‘pride and joy’, saying it is the main sport that still today unifies the Caribbean and its peoples, locally, regionally and internationally. He reminded his audience that West Indies became World Champions from 1962 to 1968 and again from 1980 to 1995, with 27 unbeaten test series. He elaborated on the point, “Today we still hold some of the world’s titles, and names that will never be forgotten in the history of Cricket. Headley, the 3 Ws, Sir Gary Sobers, Sir Everton Weekes, Brian Lara, Garner, best one day bowler, Malcolm Marshall, best fast bowler, and last but not least myself and Desmond Haynes, the opening pair”. This is a legacy we can never forget, stated Gordon Greenidge.
He said he would like to see developed a regional programme for sport and physical education where all the Caribbean islands can benefit long term from such a programme. He continued, “We must go further and embrace the sports tourism fusion. Tourism is the engine of growth in the small open economy of the West Indies and it plays a vital role in our economic and social development. It is a metaphor that mirrors social, cultural and political change in our islands, so it is imperative that we play a leading role in the sports and tourism fusion”.
Greenidge said such an initiative will contribute to the development of the tourism industry itself which will in turn enhance the quality of life of the Caribbean people, through sporting opportunities whilst the region will be recognized as a sporting destination of choice. To achieve such a goal Gordon Greenidge, the businessman, offered the following ideas:
Hosting globally recognized sporting events
Creating employment opportunities
Stimulating visitor spending
Encouraging community involvement in sports tourism
Increasing the length of stay of sport tourism visitors
Increasing awareness of West Indies as a sports tourism destination
Enhancing current sporting facilities
He said many Caribbean islands have now followed suit. To prove his point, Greenidge offered a prime example of the legacy that was created in the West Indies by hosting the Cricket World Cup in 2007. This event, he said, created possibilities of enormous benefits for sports for the West Indian people. Globally, said Greenidge, Cricket World Cup is exceeded only by World Cup Football and the Olympics. Cricket World Cup showcased the Caribbean islands to the world at large. The important point to note here is that this event created a template, which can be used in the future to involve all Caribbean islands to create a Caribbean Legacy for Sports and Physical Education, opined the legendary cricketer.
Commenting on the regional cricket scene, he said, “it is evident that for the past 4 or 5 years Trinidad and Tobago with its revamped sport and physical programme has made a major impact in Cricket in the Caribbean. They have shown discipline and commitment as a team”. He complimented the efforts of UTT saying the High Performance Cricket Team of the University has shown many examples of discipline and commitment. He suggested that one would need to learn from their methods as to how they implement the necessary learning. This structure, Greenidge believes, can be the beginning of the Building of a Caribbean Legacy for Sport and Physical Education where the Caribbean as a whole can benefit.
The legendary cricketer concluded on a hopeful and inspiring note, saying there is much to hope for as far as the future of the West Indies Cricket team is concerned, “Hope is an orientation of the spirit, an orientation of the heart, it transcends the world that is immediately experienced and is anchored somewhere beyond the horizons”.
The feature address of the Ceremonial Opening was delivered by The Honourable Gary Hunt, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Honourable Minister’s speech is given hereunder in its entirety: Feature Address by Hon. Gary Hunt re. Inaugural ICHPERSD Caribbean Congress.
I consider it an honour and indeed a privilege to deliver an address at such an important event, the inaugural Caribbean Congress of the International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance. Let me therefore express my appreciation to the organizers of this Congress and Exposition for their kind invitation. A special ‘Trinbago’ welcome, on behalf of the Government and the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs to all the visiting officials and participants. May I also congratulate the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education and the University of Trinidad and Tobago for their involvement in establishing the Caribbean as the 8th region of the ICHPER.SD.
Usually when the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs is invited to speak at an event, it is either at an awards ceremony or a function to celebrate the performance of a championship team or individual. I really cherish those moments since it gives me an opportunity to witness the final product and the culmination of a successful sporting programme. However, at a forum such as this I have an opportunity to address those persons who work behind the scenes, developing the systems and implementing the structures that produce our medal winners and sporting champions. I am therefore extremely pleased that the theme chosen for this inaugural Congress Is "Building a Caribbean Legacy for Sport and Physical Education ". It is critical that organizations such as yours undertake the important task to conduct comprehensive research into Caribbean sport and physical education.
A few weeks ago, my Ministerial colleague, the Honourable Minister of Energy and Energy Industries spoke at a ceremony commemorating 100 years of oil exploration and production in Trinidad and Tobago. In his address he said "It is in the spirit and soul of our people that the energy sector has had the greatest impact by fuelling a level of self-confidence that has changed the course of history.” It is a profound statement that accurately captures the role of the energy sector in the development of Trinidad and Tobago and its people. I hope I am not accused of plagiarism if I borrow the Minister’s words and apply it to sport and the wider Caribbean. Because I firmly believe that sport, more than any other social activity, has had the greatest impact on the spirit and soul of Caribbean people and that it has fuelled extraordinary levels of self-confidence and pride. It is mainly through sport that the nations of the Caribbean have gained international recognition and acclaim.
Whether it was the pioneers of Caribbean athletics like Jamaica’s Herb Mc Kenley , our own McDonald Bailey or Cuban greats such as Alberto Juantorena and Teofilo Stevenson, this region has always produced outstanding champions. In the 1970’s Hasely Crawford and Donald Quarrie dominated world sprinting and throughout the 1980’s the West Indies cricket team proved beyond a doubt , our capacity to be ranked among the best in the world. In football Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and more recently Trinidad and Tobago have all made it to the final stages of the prestigious FIFA World Cup. And, today, the phenomenal Usain Bolt continues to confound sporting pundits around the globe. All sorts of theories have been put forward to account for his superior athletic ability, including genetics and a traditional Jamaican diet. For this reason it is very important for us to undertake the critical research so that we can analyze our own sporting history and properly assess the legacy of Caribbean sport.
We indeed have a proud and rich history of sporting achievement over many years and in numerous disciplines. What were the social, economic, cultural and psychological factors that produced our champions? What qualities did Clive Lloyd, Vivian Richards, Gordon Greenidge and others possess that made them so unbeatable over 20 years ago? These are some of the questions that I expect this Congress will begin to answer and I look forward to the publication of research material that “truly represents the unique sport experiences of Caribbean people”.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has identified a key role for sport and physical education in national development especially at the youth level. In pursuit of this objective, the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs has articulated a vision for sport which is already guiding our activities and programmes throughout the country. The vision states that the Ministry will operate as “a dynamic, customer-oriented and policy driven organization that brings all stakeholders together to promote youth development, total participation and excellence in sport.” There are three important aspects of this vision that I wish to highlight. The first refers to bringing together the key stakeholders in sport and in this regard I include all the individuals and organizations present here today. The second is the pursuit of excellence and I do not only mean excellence on the field of play but also excellence in the quality of the scientific studies that support the development of sport. Finally there is the issue of youth development and the role of sport in harnessing the abundant talent of Caribbean youth and ensuring that it achieves its fullest potential.
The concept of using sport as a mechanism for reducing juvenile delinquency and criminal activity is not new and many countries have initiated sporting programmes to alleviate the scourge of lawlessness and gang violence. I therefore wish to challenge this Congress and the Caribbean participants in particular to identify the modern methods and approaches that are necessary for sport to play an even more dynamic role in improving the overall quality of life of our citizens. In so doing it will also raise the levels of self-confidence and self-esteem among our youthful populations.
I am also aware of the positive impact of sport, physical education and dance on the alleviation of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. More and more we are seeing a younger generation of people afflicted with these chronic ailments and this can have a major negative impact on the economies and social fabric of the Caribbean. This is another critical issue that I am sure will require the knowledge and expertise of participants at this important Congress. We need to use sport and physical education as an essential tool in promoting good health and to counter the adverse effects of modern sedentary living. These issues are all addressed within the objectives of our Government’s strategic plan and we would deeply appreciate your support and guidance in ensuring its success.
The MSYA is also currently involved in an exciting new project to place sport on a sustained path towards excellence. Considerable work has already been done and I wish to thank the representatives of UTT and the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education for their input and continued support of this initiative. Just recently I told an audience of young Carifta athletes that sport in Trinidad and Tobago is on the verge of a golden era and I believe this is also true for the wider Caribbean region. The establishment of this Caribbean secretariat is therefore a step in the right direction and a clear signal that sport and physical education in this part of the world is coming of age.
I wish to congratulate, once again, the organizers of this inaugural Caribbean congress for their foresight and vision. I expect a great deal of positive interaction and dialogue among participants and I eagerly await the publication of the conference proceedings. It is my fervent hope that this is the start of a more professional and scientific approach to the development of sport and physical education in the Caribbean.
I thank you sincerely and may God bless you.
The evening’s formal ceremony ended with a Vote of Thanks moved by Kenneth Butcher, Executive Manager of ASLS. He thanked all the speakers for their thoughtful and thought provoking addresses while also thanking Executive Director of UTT, Dr. Rene Monteil, and Senior Vice President, Mr. Oliver Flax, both in the audience, as well as for the tremendous and consistent support and encouragement of UTT President Professor Kenneth Julien and the Board of Governors of UTT for the work of the Academy of Sports and Leisure Studies.
He also publicly acknowledged the good work that Professor Michael Gray, Programme Professor, ASLS, and his team of instructors are doing at the Academy. He concluded by saying that ASLS wants to be in sports what Singapore is to the world in finance. The gala event was graced by the esteemed presence of Cricketing Icon, Brian Charles Lara, Special Adviser to the Academy of Sports and Leisure Studies of the University of Trinidad and Tobago.
