Great Bay:--- The exchange of ideas with a delegation from Santiago de Cuba currently on a fact-finding mission here is already yielding positive results, according to remarks made by President of the National Olympic Committee of St. Martin, Mr. Bobby Ottley, and vice-president of the Sports Federation, Mr. Edsel Hooker. The two of them led their respective delegations to a meeting with the Cuban delegation held under the auspices of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell Monday afternoon.Chairing the meeting was Acting Head of Youth and Sports, Mrs. Shermina Powell-Richardson, who was accompanied by Head of the Sports Section, Mr. Les Brown, and other senior officials, Mr. Elton Jones, and Mr. James Busby. In an earlier session with the Sports Section, the Cubans explained how sports is organized in their country, and how their sports policy is a derivative of the Olympic Charter.
The all-female Cuban delegation gave a graphic illustration of the pyramidal structure of sports in Cuba, starting with the schools and rising up through provincial/municipal bodies to the national selections and the Olympic Committee, a non-governmental organization which works closely with the government agency, INDER.
This bottoms-up structure is not new, nor alien to St. Martin, according to Mr. Hooker, however, the emphasis on education, discipline and values of the Cuban system with its focus on the youth, are aspects St. Martin could learn from.
The Cuban delegation offered to assist the St. Martin organizations in whatever areas these may require. The meeting ended with the Cubans offering token gifts to the St. Martin sports officials who were in attendance.
On Tuesday, their packed agenda included meetings with Physical Education teachers at the Dr. A. C. Wathey Legislative Hall, and also with representatives of sports associations.
On Wednesday, the delegation will pay a courtesy call on the President of Parliament, Drs. Gracita Arrindell, and meet with the Board and President of USM. The delegation is also scheduled to meet with the island's cultural workers at 2:00 PM at the Cultural Center on Backstreet. The fact-finding mission continues Thursday with visits to some schools, and a final wrap up session with Minister Dr. Rhoda Arrindell.
