-GTU president says he will not beg government this time
By Rawle Toney
This year’s national schools’ track and field, cycling and swimming championships is in a limbo as the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) has been unable to secure funding to stage the championships.
At a press conference held yesterday at the GTU office, GTU president Colywn King told the media that the union had budgeted a little over $10m ($10,133,206) to stage the championships.
However, King said the union was told by the Ministry of Education that they could only afford to give them $2.8m for the November 17-21 event.
NO MORE BEGGING: GTU President Colwyn King.
The Mackenzie Sports Club ground, which will play host to the 48th installation of the championships, is said to be ready after undergoing repair works.
But King told the media that the money allocated to them by the ministry… “can’t do anything.”
He said that the union had sought an intervention from President Bharat Jagdeo and a final decision was expected today.
“Our budget for this championship was sent into the Ministry of Education since February of this year. We have had several meetings with the Permanent Secretary and the Minister of Education about the schools’ championships and I can only gather now that they are not serious about athletics,” King deduced.
“It seems like sports is only for certain race and class in this country since I have also spoken to the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports about the championships and they all seem to think that only certain sports can have money from the government.
Athletics only happens once a year unlike plenty other sports whom they always support,” he added.
King said that this was the third year that the championships were in limbo and unlike the previous years, he was not prepared to go and beg for money to make the championships a success.
“I’m not going to beg for money again because at the end of the day it is the government that gets all the praises when the event is successful.
“I’ve done that before and I’m not going to do it again. The ministry needs to come forward and say publicly that they have no time for athletics.
“All they are doing is making people fools year in, year out.”
King said a decision was needed urgently to make sure that districts such as District Eight and Nine, who would normally turn up at least two days before the championships, do not waste money and time and endure the long travelling for nothing.
The national school athletics championship is one of the high points in school athletics since it brings the country’s best athletes in the school system to compete for trophies and medals and the right to be called national champions.
This guy seems to be saying the truth.Or is it the truth.? When he says that sports is for certain race and class, I tend to believe him. Except for cricket which is racially balanced, the other sports are overwhemingly dominated by one race
Imagine the GTU President is making such an allegation But maybe he just shove his foot into his mouth.
This world have no place for your nonsence!
Then the same people cutting the funds is the ones that will criticize our efforts at the Olympics and other international efforts. This is where it all begins, MOLD IT!
I would suggest that Mr. King stop ranting and raving and start looking at an alternative plan. The possibility exists for a new format of the games another is a feasible location should be selected. This is not time for screaming when you don’t get your way, find solutions that’s what you are at the head for. The GTU has all year to plan for one event do some work and the recognition and support will come.
I have noticed that the people in Guyana sports administration have little working knowledge of how to organize and manage sporting events.
I DO AGREE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MR. KING HAS SAID, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND YOU CANNOT BE FLIP FLAPPING INTERNALLY. I WAS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS WHILE MYSELF AND THE LATE BERTRAM HAMILTON WERE AT THE TOP OF THE GTU SPORTING COMMITTEE. THIS IS THE SAME THING YOU WILL GETB NFROM THE GOVERNMENT EVERY YEAR, BECAUSE MOST OF THE TRACK AND FIELD START ARE BLACKS, ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR NOT GIVING MUCH SUPPORT,
ON THE OTHER HAND THE OFFICIALS AT THE GTU HAVE TO FIND ALTERNATIVES. THEY SHOULD HAVE A FIVE YEARS PLAN IN STEAD OF A FIVE MONTHS PLAN. HOW CAN YOU GO TO THE GOVERNMENT A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE CHAMPIONSHIPS TO SECURE MONEY, SHAME ON MYOU OFFICIALS. GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND PLAN EFFECTIVELY. CLEAN UP THE INTERNAL STRIVES SINCE THEY ARE BEING FILTERED OUT NAND STHIS CAN BE A CONTIBUTING FACTOR FOR THE PRESENT POSITION.
REMEMBER THE MOTTO OF THE UNION.
What nonsense, the guy is playing the race card.