Verbal battle rages between GABA factions
By Leeron Brumell
Guyana Chronicle
November 17, 2003
GEORGETOWN Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) has set up a four-member committee to investigate the alleged irregularities in the Under-19 tour to St Lucia.
The committee comprises GABA Raffel Douglas, vice-president Michael Singh, Pepsi Sonics president Merle Jordan and Dennis Clarke, who will be trying to ascertain why and how secretary Perry Woolford had incurred a $300 000 debt during the trip; how much money parents contributed to the tour, and other complaints by players.
Douglas told Chronicle Sport that a letter would be sent to Woolford today, informing him of a suspension of his duties until the investigation is complete -- a decision taken by GABA executives after two meetings with parents and players on Saturday.
Contacted about the matter, Woolford told Chronicle Sport that he was appalled by an article in another section of the media, Saturday, that Douglas was shocked at the EC$4 000 debt.
Woolford said he was not denying that they have a debt of that amount, but was puzzled as to why the president had made such a comment. He said that he faxed a letter to the St Lucian Hotel assuring them that the bill would be paid.
The beleaguered secretary Woolford also said that the matter Douglas raised was a personal matter. The article alleged that Woolford had gone behind Douglas’ back to get one of his business associates to sign as a guarantor.
Woolford said that he never did such a thing and was now calling on Douglas to give the name of his associate and his business.
The secretary is of the view that Douglas is feeling ‘left out’ because he does not have the support of his executives.
“First of all let me make it clear, GABA nor the president were in no way associated with the Under-19 tour to St. Lucia, so what he is saying has no bearing and I will not be intimidated,” Woolford declared.
Woolford revealed that the players called him to a meeting to say that they wanted Douglas to play no part in their tour after he had made defamatory remarks about them when they played a warm-up match against Kings. He disclosed that the players staged a walkout of the Yohance Douglas tournament after the incident.
According to Woolford, Douglas then appointed a senior player to select a separate team to replace the Under-19 for the tour, if the new team should beat them.
Woolford claimed he kept the matter and others under cover because the team was under tremendous pressure. He and the manager Eon Andrews said the article was inaccurate, stating that the players were starved at times and Marvin Wray was sacked as captain.
Co-captain Alan Mentis denied the story. He told Chronicle Sport that every day he would ensure that the team had meals and those who claimed to have been starved were the ones who refused to eat with the team, a group that Woolford dubbed the ‘Rebel Five’ who separated themselves from the rest of the team and one even threatened Woolford’s life.