NOW THAT the general election is over, we can get back to focusing on beloved sport.

However, there might be a direct correlation between sport and the recently-concluded election. In fact, the results might significantly impact sport here on our little island.

Portia Simpson Miller, as Minister of Sport, performed creditably. Please note, I am not getting into the politics of whether she made a good Prime Minister or whether her party, the People's National Party, would make the better government.

The Cultural, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) fund, the Institute of Sports (INSPORT) and the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) have, under the watch of Simpson Miller, stood by the sports we love and excel at, and have made playing sport more of a worthwhile option for our country's young.

'Boyz' helped

Under her watch as sports minister, Jamaica's football team, largely due to sponsorships she was able to garner, have had world-class coaches and, if you remember, even recently, the government committed to help foot the bill for Reggae Boyz head coach, Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic.

Under the watch of Simpson Miller, Jamaica, and in particular the government, has become more acutely aware of the importance of sport to the country's development. That era is now over.

The question that needs to be asked in the wake of this reality is, who will take over the mantle now that it has become apparent the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will form the next government?

Even more than who, is the question of how?

Will the JLP's representative pay as much attention as his/her predecessor?

Understating importance

It is important to note here that I am not suggesting other persons are not as competent or that the JLP is not as good as the PNP when it comes to sport but rather, I am saying the sports fraternity needs to drive home the importance of its industry to the powers that be and ensure they don't get neglected.

I don't know how far down the scale of importance the JLP places sport -and it might be quite high up. What I am saying is that the heads of all the major sporting bodies - INSPORT, the Jamaica Netball Association, the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association and the Jamaica Cricket Association - along with smaller sporting associations, have to ensure their needs are not put on the backburner.

While I understand the campaigns for the recent election could not have focused on sport with other major national issues on the table to be debated, my hope is that sport has not been forgotten.

In a country where sport is not yet 'big' business, the input of the government in its development is important and, at this point, when there is a change of government, that point could be understated.

Send feedback to Paul-Andre.Walker@gleanerjm.com