Log In

Reset Password

Gov't blasted over sports funding

Shadow Sports Minister Jon Brunson has labelled the Government ‘irresponsible' over its haphazard sports funding.

Brunson revealed that none of the major sporting associations which were registered as charities had submitted financial statements since 2001 - something that legally they must do in order to continue receiving Government grants.

And he said the lack of accountability of nearly $1 million a year was unacceptable and “typical of this Government's attitude to taxpayers' money”.

Brunson was speaking in response to Sports Minister's Dale Butler's recent comments to The Royal Gazette that Government does “not have the resources to fund” sports groups to the extent that the groups desire.

Considering that Butler recently confirmed that Government still grants funding to charities, including sporting charities, that are not in compliance with the Charities Act of 1978, Brunson questioned how Butler could account for the money Government was spending.

The Charities Act of 1978 states that charities must submit financial statements within nine months of their annual general meetings in order to receive and continue to receive Government funding.

However, according to research that Brunson conducted into the records of 12 sports charities, only two had submitted financial records this year. The rest of the groups last submitted financial statements in, or before, 2001 with some groups, like Bermuda Olympic Association, not submitting their statements for the past five years.

“There is a clear lack of accountability,” said Brunson in a rare public attack on his opposite number, Butler.

“We are talking about taxpayers' money here and it is being given to sports charities on demand but there is no record of what is happening with the money.

“It is not an acceptable situation and it is irresponsible for the Minister to continue to allow it to go on and say that he will still give grants to groups whether or not they submit their statements.

“Under the Charities Act it is not acceptable.”

Brunson, himself a keen triathlete, would not place the blame at the door of the charities, praising their work and stating: “The charities have only been doing what they've been allowed to do.”

He also called for Government to be a leader in this matter and “to take more responsibility for the lack of leadership on this issue”.

He said that if he were Sports Minister, he would mandate that any sporting body that received Government funding not only be in compliance with the Charities Act but also be audited annually by the Auditor General in order to receive and continue receiving government funding.

But Butler was adamant, in response, that the money was accounted for even though many of the bodies had not submitted full financial statements.

“We are happy with the accountability issue,” Butler told The Royal Gazette.

“When grants are awarded or money is given out, we ask to see receipts and bills as the grants act as a reimbursement. That way we can keep track of all the money.

“We are reviewing our policy in relation to the Charities Act and issues of compliance.

“We are concerned that all the requirements of the Charities Act are not being fulfilled. However, if were to cut off their funding, many associations would immediately fold and put an end to the invaluable work that they do - and that is not a situation anyone would want.

“We have to work together to find the best solution in the interests of the work they do for sport and for the community.”

Butler, who already runs workshops for the sports' associations, added that he was looking to find a way of bringing in young Bermudians, or ex-pat workers, from the financial industry on a voluntary basis to help sports charities deal with accounting, marketing and advertising work.