Vets programme awaits sport ministry action
Published:Friday | April 16, 2021 | 12:14 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
An anonymous source at the Sport Development Foundation (SDF) said it has already committed funds to the new Veterans Assistance Programme but is now awaiting its implementation by the Ministry of Sport.
The programme will provide assistance for sportsmen and sportswomen who have fallen on hard times since representing the country.
It was expected to be reviewed at the SDF’s board meeting in February, but it did not undergo a complete review.
There are, however ,administrative issues that still need to be finalised on the ministry’s part.
“A full review has not been done, but the main responsibility of the SDF is to assist [with] the funding, and the board has indicated its full willingness to make certain funds available to begin the process.
“But the way how the process will proceed will be determined by the ministry,” the source said.
The source said the SDF is not responsible for the programme’s implementation, but it has done what has been asked of it by its overseers.
“We are a subsidiary of the ministry and we do what we are asked to do, and precisely what we have been asked to do is [to] make available a certain level of funding.
“That is in place and the minister (Olivia Grange) is aware, so now it is the minister, and by extension, the ministry that will determine how we move forward with the programme. So the SDF is waiting for the ministry to see exactly how we will proceed.”
The source said the Ministry of Sport would be better able to provide a more accurate update on how far the implementation process has reached, but The Gleaner received no response when Grange was contacted on the matter.