Dear Editor,
The March 13 article in SN captioned ‘Government needs to step up to plate for Carifta team’ by Orin Davidson refers.
The writer has indeed written on an important aspect of sport in Guyana and I agree with him that by investing in sport, Guyana could really shine brightly on the international circuit. I have frequently written that Guyana possesses great talent, but at the end of the day if one does not have strong financial backing in the form of long-term corporate endorsement, sponsorship of some kind or a commitment from the Ministry of Sport, one will get absolutely nowhere in terms of a sports career. On the other hand, I honestly do not believe that Guyana is currently in a position to meet the expenses which are required for nurturing athletes to attain international stardom.
I believe that there is nothing wrong with Guyanese athletes based outside Guyana who have acquired citizenship in their adopted homeland taking advantage of an avenue to represent their adopted flag; their chances will be so much better for acquiring international stardom. Two perfect examples are Sanya Richards of the USA and Mo Farah of the UK.
Will all those Guyanese communities abroad state for the record what their contribution has been in relation to the situation affecting US-based Ms Kadecia Baird (World Junior Silver Medalist)? The reason for that question is that many persons feel that it’s the sole responsibility of the Ministry of Sport to provide financial aid to Ms Baird, and I do not agree. Guyanese who reside overseas also have a key role to play and they also need to step up to the plate with their financial contribution. Guyana might not really have much to do but focus on the locally-based athletes who have potential and dream about qualifying for regional and international competitions.
Mr Davidson did mention his choice of coach to accompany the athletes to the 2013 Carifta Games in the Cayman Islands, but is he IAAF accredited, as is required?
I understand that the current President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), Mr Aubrey Hutson, is also the President of the Running Braves Club, while the newly appointed General Secretary of the AAG is Col. Paul Arthur of the Guyana Defence Force, who is also the President of the GDF Track Club. In my opinion, that is definitely a conflict of interest in both cases.
Yours faithfully,
T Pemberton
