Dr Anthony says no room for any contribution

The Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) has made a proposal to Minister  of Culture Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony that one per cent of this year’s national sports budget of $550 million be allocated to lawn tennis.

According to a release from the GLTA, the suggestion was made last Friday when a delegation from the GLTA met with the minister following a request from GLTA president Christopher Ram for a meeting to discuss a number of issues.

Representing the GLTA at the meeting were: Ram, Vice-president Rawle Sue-Ho and Grace McCalman, GLTA executive with responsibility for Junior Development.

According to the release the GLTA president “pointed to the marked imbalance in the allocation of national resources dedicated to the various sporting disciplines and called for a more streamlined approach, as well as equitable financial allocation to be among the primary components of the support architecture for sports generally,” the release stated.

Ram, the release added, declared that sports can… ”make a significant contribution to the economy and development of the nation and that the health and wellness of participating citizens can directly reduce the billions of dollars spent annually on the health budget.” In making the request for one per cent of the sports budget allocation, the GLTA promised that “allocated funds would be used strictly for developmental purposes, and properly accounted for.” However, Dr Anthony told the delegation that though he was appreciative of the contribution the sport could make to national development “there was absolutely no room in the budget for any contribution for tennis.”

According to the release, Ram also “pleaded” with Dr. Anthony to fund the salaries of two co-ordinators through an allocation of two million dollars.

The minister was told that the GLTA was only able to finance the employment of one co-ordinator (resident and operating in Georgetown) and a few other parts of Region Four by utilising the financial assistance from the International Tennis Federation.

According to the GLTA, it would like to have a more structured programme in Berbice and also to take the sport to schools in Essequibo, Linden and the hinterland communities.  The GLTA team told the minister that tennis in Guyana “has survived primarily due to the support of the private sector, some resources from the International Tennis Federation (ITF), and the dedication and commitment of the members of the GLTA.”

The release said the GLTA delegation appealed for support from the government, which, the release pointed out, had been noticeably absent for several years.

“The team added that such support is clearly vital for tennis to become more than a recreational sport, enjoyed by a limited number of Guyanese; and one representative of a deeper commitment and outreach on a larger scale,” the release added.
Dr Anthony, the release stated, undertook to arrange a meeting of the Minister of Education, himself and the GLTA to ascertain whether that ministry could finance the employment of at least one co-ordinator.

The GLTA also sought financial assistance from the ministry to enable the participation of six juniors in the preliminary rounds of the World Junior Tennis Championship to be held in Trinidad and Tobago in early April but according to the release, “the minister responded that while his Ministry could not afford any cash contribution, it would favourably consider a request to waive the Travel Voucher Tax on the airline tickets, and the Departure Tax for the six members of the team and the accompanying two coaches.”

Dr. Anthony, the release stated, “expressed some surprise about concerns from the GLTA that it is not kept informed of, or involved in, the ongoing extensive rehabilitation works at the Non Pareil facilities which had previously housed the national tennis facilities.

“The Minister advised the GLTA team that his Ministry was constructing a Racquet Ball Centre, inclusive of two tennis courts, to be used by the public, children from schools in the area, and on a limited basis, the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association,” the release said while adding that the GLTA agreed to assist the ministry in the placement of a tennis coach for the Centre and to make recommendations for the proper administration of the facility when completed.

Informed that Guyana was one of only two CARICOM countries without a National Tennis Centre, a requirement for internationally staged tennis tournaments, Dr Anthony told the delegation that he had been approached by a private investor for the development of eight grass courts at the Non Pareil Tennis facility.

After the GLTA responded that the proposition was “unlikely and inadvisable” the Minister challenged the GLTA to submit a plan for the development of the Tennis Centre, the release stated.

“The two sides also agreed to cooperate in hosting workshops on several sports administration areas: including better governance and financial administration, tournament co-ordination and management, ethics in sports, fund-raising, and the conduct of officials, “the release stated.
“The GLTA also reminded the minister that the life of the National Sports Development Council expired more than two years ago and recommended that its reconstitution should be a priority consideration,” stated the release.

The minister accepted the invitation by Ram to have his ministry join with the GLTA to develop the sport to return to the era of years gone by when Guyana and Guyanese excelled at the game.

The GLTA representatives assured the Minister of their availability and willingness to work with his Ministry not only on tennis, but on sports generally.

The release stated that Ram “expressed his team’s satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, and the association’s hope that it signals the beginning of a new, constructive, and mutually rewarding relationship between the Ministry and the GLTA.”