Dear Editor,
Christopher Ram’s latest correspondence to your Sunday Stabroek (`The GLTA never demanded a percentage of the Sport Ministry’s budget” – 24 April 2011) again reeks of feigned dissatisfaction with initial responses to his original Business Page – distortions of the Ministry, its allocations and the alleged “mystery” Fund.
Some persons, of whatever repute, tend to invite justified ridicule upon themselves. Mr. Christopher Ram, in casting aspersions, about the spending, the holding back of financial support and even the integrity of the Ministry of Sport and the National Sports Commission, now opens himself and his stewardship of the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) to some rare scrutiny.
First, two basic responses; I am informed that Ram did approach Minister Anthony with a proposal for a specific percentage for the GLTA which forced the Minister to remind him (Ram) that he should know “how budgets are fashioned and utilized”!! It is noteworthy, if not curious, that Mr. Ram had indicated to others just what he would demand of the Minister.
Also, Ram and all like-minded associates now in a political/campaign mode must accept that there is a bona fide NSC-National Sports Commission- and that Mr. Conrad Plummer has not turned his back on that entity. Unlike what obtains at Ram’s GLTA. For if Christopher Ram wishes to indict the integrity of officials he has developed a dislike for, he must be beyond reproach. But is he any model of an exemplary leader or administrator?
Then tell us, dear Christopher about the resignation and absence of Dr. Surujbally and others from your GLTA – and the reasons given. Tell the sporting public when was the last time you submitted an audited financial report to the National Sports Commission, as required by the regulations.
Apart from these basic requirements being observed in the breach, explain also, why your GLTA never took up an offer by the Ministry of Sport to employ a National Tennis Coach to work with the Association, as is done for various other sports and associations? This would have resulted in increased and improved lawn tennis activity for interested Guyanese youngsters in our schools. Finally, the GLTA President Ram should know that we are in receipt of correspondence from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Development Officer (English Speaking Caribbean). Since I need not gleefully reveal the content of Anthony Jeremiah’s letter here I would merely alert the lawn tennis fraternity of Mr. Jeremiah’s account of assistance offered the GLTA from 2006. The ITF was most generous to the GLTA in 2010. Whilst Ram writes of his “audacious fundraising efforts”, I am sure he can account for the thousands of ITF dollars given to the GLTA.
Further I write not. It is not for me to provide reasons and rationale with respect to the Olympic –size Pool or the National Racquet Centre. In this season of election campaign–related tactics, I don’t think Mr. Ram cares for simple explanations. He should, however, remember that when you point your finger at others, three or four others point back at you.
Yours faithfully,
Neil Kumar
Director of Sports
