Challenges and constraints in developing and implementing sports policy and provision in Antigua and Barbuda: which way now for a small island state?

Abstract

This paper examines the challenges and constraints of sport policy agenda setting and policy development in a small nation context of Antigua and Barbuda. It also aims to understand and explore existing limitations, issues and trajectories in sport policy implementation. The project draws upon a mixed-methods approach encompassing documentary analysis, 30 in-depth interviews and visual methodology in the form of photo observations. Through this methodology, the purpose of the paper is to open up sport policy agendas allowing the ‘voices’ of those local populations, policymakers, coaches and volunteers to be heard within the context of this study and wider sport policy research. Initial findings indicate sport and physical activity as a contested policy priority, barriers in cross-departmental collaboration, elite sport and performance agenda dilemmas and considerable limitations in third sector human infrastructure and physical facilities. Implications from this small nation sport policy context highlight the need for improved public policy problem definition and the need for clarity in agenda setting within tiers of the evolving sport policy community. Finally, the tentative potential positive policy spaces for future implementation and lessons in policy design involving national, regional and local actors and agencies are identified.

Keywords:

• Caribbean sport
• Antigua and Barbuda
• small state
• policy implementation
• agenda setting

Notes

1. This is the first phase of the project and it is intended to be part of a next phase of research, consultation and training between the project partners

2. Senator Winston Williams is responsible for this provision.

3. Figures converted to US dollars on 23 September 2013, 1 USD = 2.70000

4. Secondary data was limited in scope but did provide some useful contextual information on sports participation attitudes, levels of self-reported participation and hours of engagement. Further details of these findings can be found in Darko and Mackintosh (2012).

5. It should be noted that we were unable to interview staff within the Ministry of Education due to their time constraints.

6. Sedentary behaviour is defined as a group of behaviours that occur whilst sitting or lying down while awake and typically require very low energy expenditure, characterized by an energy expenditure ≤1.5 METs (Sedentary Behaviour Research Network 2012)

7 Our research revealed that there were only two qualified doctors of sports medicine currently living on the islands

8. Sir Allen Stanford privately developed aspects of Antigua and Barbuda’s infrastructure and contributed significantly to the development and existence of professional sport. He was prosecuted of being involved in (7bn) investment fraud (The Telegraph, Friday 19 June 2009)