And while the MCC Field looks dead and dusty - we contrasted it to a village field in Corozal which is thriving - even though it does not have a half a million dollar fence.
Jules Vasquez:
"The Armin Manzanero football field in Calcutta Corozal is one of the finest pitches you will ever see. Okay. Impeccable and immaculate. It is that way because the community loves it, cares for it, takes pride in it. The state of disrepair that many of our sports facilities find themselves in, our national level sports facilities is because there is not that level of attention and care and that duty falls to the Sports Council,. Right, it's a culture, you know, that has developed over many decades."
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Youth Sports
Agreed.
Jules Vasquez:
"How do you hope to instill a culture of caring and maintaining these facilities like it's your back yard?"
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Youth Sports
"Well, you have to put in place management systems for those facilities if you have serious people who are there. And you have to hold them accountable in terms of the management of the facilities."
"But there has been this way of acting with regards to the facilities that area reps and their people run the facilities. No, no, no, all of that will stop. And I've signaled that to individuals already that the facilities are under the management, that are under the management of the National Sports Council, will be managed and operated by the National Sports Council."
Jules Vasquez:
"Over many decades another culture has evolved that I have observed where the Sports Council became a dumping ground for politically favored persons."
"You know, just phantom workers, many of them, it's a, a legacy that you and Mr. Menzies have unfortunately inherited. How do you address that? Because all of these people were sent here by an area representative."
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Youth Sports
"Well, that will always be. I mean, that's the nature of the business. But if people get a job, they have to work. If people get that job, they have to show up to work. And so those who aren't showing up to work, we've part ways with."
"So you've told your colleagues this: that your, your, favoured constituent that you sent to work here, they're not working and I have to send them home. That's right. And please, noh call me."
