The Cayman Islands ‘elite athletes’ programme may undergo some significant changes this year, according to Sports Minister Bernie Bush.
Speaking with the Cayman Compass, Bush stated that national athletes on a government-based salary will see a change in how they are paid moving forward.
“It won’t necessarily be a salary anymore, it will be more on an incentive basis,” Bush said.
“My personal view, and I’m entitled to my opinion, is the way that it was set up before… athletes had no incentives to do anything because they were collecting money whether they worked hard or not.”
Currently, Caymanian professional athletes in the programme receive anywhere from $39,425 to $53,000 annually, regardless if they compete or not, but Bush plans to change that.
He said athletes will now receive a lump sum depending on the nature of the event and how they perform.
The most recent example of how Bush plans to run the programme going forward was Jordan Crooks, who received $25,000 after winning gold at the World Championships in December.
Bush also hopes to introduce health insurance for athletes and continue giving grants to up-and-coming talent.
“I feel that we should help them with an insurance plan for their health, for when they get injured, there’s something there to cover them,” he explained.
“We have to help them get over the hump to become a pro. So, we are going to look at each thing carefully,” he added.
Bush also spoke about incidents involving national athletes entering events while ill, insisting that will not happen anymore.
“It’s not about showing up and taking a picture anymore,” Bush said, vowing “If every time you have a meet… [and] have some sickness, it is not going to happen anymore”.
“I have never been afraid to do the unpopular things or say the unpopular things…but I will continue to be very truthful to the country and be very practical with our money, because we don’t have money to throw away.”
While Bush’s comments were not directed towards anyone in particular, Cayman has seen some athletes compete while at less than 100% several times in the past, including hurdler Ronald Forbes, who suffered a severe calf injury before the 2016 Olympics.
And most recently, at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Kemar Hyman, Cayman’s 100m national record holder who has represented the islands at three Olympic Games, finished seventh in his 100m heat while suffering from bronchitis.
Before Bush was appointed sports minister following the 2021 election, the previous administration had Hyman as the only athlete listed for annual earnings at $39,500. Under Bush’s new plans, that salary-based payment could be changed.
The Compass reached out to Hyman for comment on the proposed changes to the elite programme on 5 Jan.; no response was received before press time.
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