Dear Editor,
On November 2, 2016 Stabroek News published an article captioned ‘Hinds says he expects to be fully reimbursed -says NSC obligated to pay for capital works to CASH and National Gymnasium.’
Multiple efforts were made to have Kaieteur News sport editors Mr Rawle Welch and Mr Edison Jefford publish an article relating to the subject matter of the one published by SN, without success. Mr Jefford is also a Commissioner on the National Sports Commission, someone I consider to be productive and not given to hubris; he is generally focused on the development of sport in Guyana.
As a result of the SN article and the actions of government and non-government personnel, some progress has been made; however more remains to be done by the NSC to honour its debt and focus on developing sport and creating opportunities for youths across Guyana.
The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) received on Friday, February 3, 2017 a cheque for $3.5M, being part of the funds due from the National Sports Commission (NSC) for works done by GABF at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), prior to the Caribbean Basketball Confederation U16 Championships, hosted in Guyana from July 2-16, 2016.
The geniuses and masterminds that run the NSC have somehow made $3.5M equivalent to $7.8M. It would be an insult to the intelligence of the leadership of the NSC, if they actually believe their stated intent not to repay the balance due of $4.5M. The NSC must understand that the debt will be fully paid, and time is of the essence.
Some members of the NSC are sunshine sport patriots, who have put title and benefits above service, and seem inspired to conduct themselves in ways that are not fit and proper. They make grand claims to spending the taxpayers’ monies as if it is their personal sacrifice!
The same logic that spurred them to pay $3.5M to GABF as part payment towards the new basketball goals should apply with equal force to the capital expenditure made by the GABF to prepare CASH for the championships. This includes carpeting of VIP area and 3 rooms; wall partitions; a door for the VIP washroom and two urinals with fittings. There was also construction work or repairs on the first responders’ room; the kitchen; the walkway; the balcony rooms; the National Gymnasium washroom where the sinks were replaced, among other capital expenditure.
The shameful conduct by the NSC, evidenced by the monies due to GABF not being repaid after six months is indefensible. These are monies that the NSC committed verbally to repaying.
While the NSC pays lip service to sports development and has a youth development policy, their inaction betrays their verbal pronouncements.
The vainglorious nature of some members of the NSC, does not bode well for Youth and Sports development in Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Nigel Hinds
