A sports governance expert is warning that abuse of power within sport administration is contributing to youth frustration and wider social problems in Trinidad and Tobago.
Writing in the Trinidad Guardian, former Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) President Brian Lewis says authoritarian behaviour by some sport officials is driving young athletes out of sport, fuelling anger, resentment, and in some cases contributing to crime and gang activity.
โSome Olympic sport leaders wield their own iteration of corporal punishmentโhanded down from the colonial and slave-master model of abuseโas a tool for control and discipline,โ he stated.
โOngoing decisions by sports administrators and sport organizations that destroy the dreams and self-worth of young athletes continue above and under the radar.โ
He argues that outdated, colonial-era attitudes continue to influence sport management.
Lewis called for urgent reform, greater accountability, and modern governance structures to better protect athletes and support long-term development in the region.
