MJSAC Budget Overhaul and its Impact on National Sport: The Haitian National Sports Observatory Launches Debate

PORT-AU-PRINCE.— The Haitian National Sports Observatory (ONSH) held an important conference-debate on Tuesday, on the theme: «Analysis of the Ministry of Sports Budget and its Impact on the Sports Reality in Haiti». This initiative aims to foster collective reflection on public sports management, its priorities, and the structural challenges hindering its development. Among the distinguished speakers were Roro Pharell, a well-known figure in the sports community and an active promoter of community sports, and Me Edwing Charles, former Minister of Youth, Sports and Civic Action (MJSAC), who provided institutional and legal insights on the matter. A Debate on the Transparency and Effectiveness of Public Funding Discussions focused primarily on the MJSAC's budget allocation, often deemed insufficient and poorly directed given the sector's real needs. Speakers emphasized the need to strengthen transparency in the management of public funds, improve monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for sports projects, and give more prominence to sports federations and local authorities in defining priorities. Roro Pharell insisted on the role of sport as a tool for education and social cohesion, advocating for a decentralization of resources to allow young people in the provinces to benefit from the same opportunities as those in the capital. «We cannot speak of sports development without real investment in basic infrastructure and the training of coaches,» he declared. A Call for a Coherent National Sports Policy For his part, Me Edwing Charles emphasized the need to provide the country with a clear national sports policy, articulated around three axes: training, governance, and investment. «The ministry's budget must cease to be perceived as a mere accounting line. It must become a strategic lever for the inclusion and influence of Haitian sport,» he affirmed. Towards Advocacy for a Budget Overhaul The ONSH announced the upcoming publication of an analytical report stemming from the conference's discussions, which will serve as a basis for advocacy with relevant authorities and sector partners. Participants unanimously recognized that sport, beyond competition, is a vector for public health, education, and social peace. This meeting, praised for the quality of its discussions, marks a new step in the desire of Haitian stakeholders to place sport at the heart of public policies. Jean Mapou