Former president of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), Trevor Rose said yesterday that he was neither prepared nor willing to run for the presidential post at GABA’s AGM and elections held last Sunday.
In an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport at the Burnham Basketball Court yesterday afternoon, Rose stated that the reason for him wanting not to contest the elections was because of the absence of the association’s financial statement for the period he was GABA president.
Rose said that it was not his decision to stage the Annual General Meeting because he was not prepared to contest the post without the financial statement.
“The clubs decided that they want to hold the AGM for whatever reason, but I would’ve waited and my suggestion was for us to install a steering committee until the financial statement was ready,” he revealed.
Rose added that he had informed the clubs and his executives that without the financial statement he would not contest the elections and since this statement wasn’t present he had declined to contest the elections until the statement was completed.
However, Rose said: “Someone on the floor nominated me.”
He said he did not decline the nomination and lost by nine votes to one to new GABA president David Carto.
At the AGM and elections, accountability of GABA’s funds was a main part of the discussion as representatives of clubs who were subsequently on the voting panel raised questions about GABA’s finances.
“If I had my financial report present it would’ve backed up my track record, because the financial report would clearly state what I have done for basketball and what my administration has done for basketball.
“I felt that I had a responsibility to the clubs to present a financial report and I felt like there was no accountability at that time.
“I think even though I didn’t get the full support from everyone of my executives during the two years, I think we did far more than the past two administrations,” he declared.
Rose noted that when the financial report is completed he will have it published to the clubs and the general public to clarify negative reports of his administration not being able to account for GABA funds.
“I will definitely publish it so that everybody can have a clear mind and a clear indication as that what we have achieved over the last two years,” he assured.
Rose stated that there were some basketball clubs, who did not show support for his administration from the inception.
The former president maintains though, that he did a “good job” for basketball in comparison to his predecessor and pointed out that there has always been segregation among the clubs.
“They were those who wanted to see the sport develop and there were those who made public criticisms,” he said candidly.
“A certain set of officials and members of the basketball fraternity started a dreadful rumor about the treasurer, the secretary and myself misusing basketball funds, it even went as far as to say that all of us bought vehicles and all these things,” he added.
Rose noted that this painted a negative image of him to the corporate community and the clubs.
“It never did anything to basketball but shone a negative light and hindered the sport.”
Rose added that the financial statement when released will dispense all rumours surrounding his administration.
Further, Rose said he had invested his own money into GABA and this will also be shown on the financial statement.
“Accountability would never be my problem because it’s like I have to now give account for my money that was spent and I want that to show that,” he stated.
When asked when GABA’s financial report will be completed, Rose stated that he couldn’t give a deadline at the moment, but assured it will be completed.
