Cricket CEO challenges government

THE chief executive of the Guernsey Cricket Board has made a case for sport to be handed a small percentage of the island's health budget as well as an increase from Education because it is doing so much good to keep each department's potential expenditure down.

Mark Latter has put forward the idea after another tough year balancing the books of the GCB, while at the same time doing so much in the community and activating the young.

'This has been another challenging year financially and has required some tough decisions to ensure that the business can match the playing side and support its success in the future,' he said.

'Like all sports, ideas abound but cash to make them reality does not and our ambitions are only checked by the resources to realise them.

'You often find yourself looking over the fence to see what other sports are doing and cannot sometimes wonder if the playing field is level.'

Latter is adamant that not only cricket should get more back for the work they do.

'All sport in Guernsey, though, suffers from very little direct government financial assistance, which rankles, given the value added to the local economy by the sports business in the Bailiwick.

'True, the current economic environment means everyone is looking after the pennies, but spending in one area can often create savings in another, and this is true of sport assisting with public health and well-being.

'From "obesity strategy" to "classroom behaviour" and even exam success, there are various studies showing that the old adage a "healthy body equals a healthy mind" is so very true,' he said.