Lamontagne defends Sports Academy’s track record amid public debate

A senior administrator at the Saint Lucia Sports Academy says the institution can be improved through collaboration with key partners, while urging greater efficiency in service delivery. He believes the long‑term success of the SLSA will benefit Saint Lucia.

There has been considerable discussion surrounding the SLSA in recent weeks, and a story published by St Lucia Times further fuelled debate about the merits of the Gros Islet‑based institution. Contributors with varying connections to the academy were generally positive, highlighting the school’s potential for growth and development.

However, this did not reveal what it may truly be like to work under the pressures of managing the nation’s sporting future at a school under much public scrutiny.

While Anthony Lamontagne, Programme Director at the academy, did not go into details, he spoke about the school’s challenges and achievements from the viewpoint of the person responsible for sporting development.

Lamontagne is a dedicated sports professional who has served as a physical education teacher, coaching coordinator, and president and secretary of the Saint Lucia Basketball Federation.

The SLSA programme director told St Lucia Times that the institution, now in its sixth year, is “well on track” to fulfilling its mandate. However, he acknowledged that there is still room for improvement, cautioning that “it is useless to believe and assume that we have arrived and are seated on top.”

“We must strive for high productivity and minimise waste in the delivery of services. All procedures and processes must be reviewed for continuous development. We must not rest on narratives that do not insist on growth. Comfort is not a characteristic of performance. An improved environment can only serve Saint Lucia better.

“Another aspect of improvement is alignment. The academy can be divided into three distinct areas: academics, sports and the dorm. This division must only be for functionality. Each department must invest interest and action in each other. Non-sports staff must be open to sports-related assignments. Likewise, coaches must appreciate that their role at the academy goes way beyond the development of physical skills. The coach must utilise the opportunities available and their influence to positively impact an athlete’s language, deportment, conduct, boundaries and respect for all.”

Further, Lamontagne indicated that the only way to elevate the school’s standing will be through a collaborative effort from society as a whole.

“We must step away from a symbolic Saint Lucia Sports Academy to an actual Saint Lucia Sports Academy and unleash the potential and multiplying benefits thereafter,” he said. “The entire Saint Lucian sports ecosystem is implicated in this pivotal and far-sighted approach. There must be a seat at the table for the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee and departments of education, sports, health, Saint Lucia National Lottery, sports science specialists and national sports federations.

“This is a secure approach to generate participation, develop ownership, set clear goals and expectations and direct participation. Our individual mandates all intercept. We can only become a better sporting nation when we pull resources and work together for success. We have to hold ourselves accountable. Accountability is key in developing a high-performance culture. Strong leadership and role models are essential. Leadership must embody the values and behaviours of a high-performance culture and inspire and motivate the team.”