AAA will not depend on NSC for funding
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
April 29, 2002
The Amateur Athletic Association of Guyana (AAA) will not depend on the National Sports Commission (NSC) for funding for its (AAA) `Gold Squad's' participation at international meets.
Speaking at the Launch of the athletic `Gold Squad' on Saturday at the Thomas Lands YMCA, president of the AAA, Claude Blackmoore stated that persons in charge of sports at the government level is un-predictable and so the AAA will not rely on them for any funding.
The squad which is made up of athletes drawn from various districts, will commence training today at various venues around the country.
According to Blackmoore, the squad will be together until the life of the current AAA executive comes to an end in 2005, and their first major meet is the Junior Central American and Caribbean Games to be held in Barbados from July 5th to 7th.
Blackmoore stated that the cost to send one athlete to the CAC meet is $100,000 and this amount includes gear and equipment, ticket and hotel accommodation.
Asked how funds will be raised to off-set the projected cost to send a team to the CAC meet, Blackmoore explained that one activity the AAA will be organising, is a take-away dinner and lime on June 30th at the YMCA.
Asked why he is not seeking funding from the NSC, Blackmoore explained that when the three athletes - Clevland Forde, Tai Payne and Anilisa Austin were to go to the Bahamas for the Junior Carifta games earlier this month, the AAA applied to the NSC for a $750,000 grant, but it was only a few days before the team, under Foster Sampson as manager/coach were to leave, that the NSC made contact with him (Blackmoore), advising that he sends a receipt for $150,000, since that's all they (NSC) could have afforded.
Blackmoore explained that a receipt was sent with the Guyana Teachers Union's (GTU) president, Bertram Hamilton, who is an executive member of the AAA and the manager of the `Gold Squad', and to date, the AAA is still to receive the $150,000.
According to Blackmoore, Hamilton went twice to the NSC's office and was unable to receive the money. This he (Blackmoore) said forced the AAA to borrow the funds from another source so that the team could have attended the Games.
Forde won a gold medal in the 5000-meter, while Payne captured a silver in the 800-metre.
Blackmoore further pointed out that the team did not even get the usual ticket and airport tax waiver that is normally given to national teams going abroad. "So for now, lets us treat them (NSC) as an unknown.
Blackmoore asked Sampson who was present on Saturday, to explain to the athletes' parents who were present, the problems he encountered in trying to get the waiver.
According to Sampson, a letter was sent to the NSC three weeks prior to the team's departure for the Bahamas, and he subsequently made several checks with the NSC, who waited until the day before departure, before sending the list of names and a covering letter to the ministry of finance. "The finance minister did not even get a chance to look at it (letter), but with God's help we were able to attend the Games" Sampson lamented.
Sampson explained that the Guyanese living and working in the Bahamas assisted the team financially and otherwise and some have even pledged their financial support for other teams.
Sampson congratulated those selected on the `Gold Squad' and called on them to go the extra mile to enhance their performance.