Mr. Fred Sturrup, writer of the Nassau Guardian's Sports Scope column, recently offered his concerns about "the governments lack of interest to support" (I assume financially) a local athletes invitational event originally scheduled for April 2015.

Mr. Sturrup uses several column inches to outline what a nice guy the Bahamian athlete is, how dedicated he is and how disappointed he is that the government is not supporting him.

However, no space is devoted to some very important questions, like:

1. Can the country afford to sponsor it?
2. Why can't the event get private sponsors?
3. What was the financial outcome (cost to taxpayers) of the world track and field event that was held here last year?
4. Should sports be a priority of the government?
5. What would not get support if the government spent tax dollars on this event?

I'm sure the list can be expanded, and while I feel sorry for the athlete, it's really not right that one event should receive support while many others are not able to.

Besides, this is simply not the role of government and policies like those suggested by the writer are what has placed the country into the fiscal mess it is in now. The government made a good decision in this case.

Theoretically taking a couple dollars from each taxpayer to pay for the event today might go unnoticed, through the "concentrated benefit to the athlete and the dispersed costs to all taxpayers", (see video below) it's time for the country to rationalise what tax dollars need to be or should be spent on for sake of all taxpayers, now and in the future.