Gov’t has presided over failed labour and sport policy, says Hinds

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesman on Labour and Sport, Wavell Hinds, has accused the Government of presiding over a failed labour and sports development policy, which he said has led to “the great Jamaican brain drain”.Hinds levelled the accusation during his recent contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.He pointed to a recent UNDP migration poll which revealed what he described as “an absolute, though not surprising, horror show for our future: 71 per cent of Jamaican youth plan to migrate within the next three years”.“Nearly three-quarters of our young people are actively planning their exit strategy,” said Hinds for emphasis.“If you want to see exactly how this toxic reality plays out in the sporting world, look no further than the shocking ruling handed down just last month on April 16, 2026, by the World Athletics,” he added.He was referencing the ruling against reigning 2024 Olympic men’s discus champion Roje Stona; Olympic shot put bronze medalist Rajindra Campbell; World Championships long jump silver medalist Wayne Pinnock, and triple jump Junior World Record holder Jaydon Hibbert.Describing them as being among “Jamaica’s absolute finest, elite field-event superstars”, Hinds noted that they had completed documentation to switch their national allegiance to Turkey, “not because they lack patriotism, but because like so many Jamaicans, they no longer see mobility, growth, or stability within the current system”“Why should an Olympic gold medalist need to look elsewhere to secure his or her financial future?” Hinds asked, answering with: “this is because our local system is underfunding their potential”.“These athletes are watching other countries invest strategically in athlete welfare, training infrastructure, rehabilitation science, sponsorship structures, and professional development pathways, while Jamaica continues functioning on symbolic patriotism and outdated systems,” he said.Hinds told the House that the Sports Development Foundation public bodies document tells a sobering story.“While administrative expenditures and executive salaries are climbing, funding for athlete welfare decreased this year. We cannot continue asking our athletes to survive on vibes, speeches, and flag-waving.“We cannot keep underfunding our talent, and then we act shocked when they look toward foreign borders,” he said.