Delivering his secretary’s report on the activities of the GOA for 2008, the association’s General Secretary Ivor O’Brien informed special invitees, officers and members of the GOA’s affiliates Friday evening last, that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Daimler (a German company) within the framework of their partnership agreement, have decided to allocate a Mercedes Benz minivan to the GOA.

He informed that the IOC has set up this programme which has been in force for approximately 10 years now and they allocate a certain number of vehicles each year.

According to O’Brien, the programme is meant to support National Olympic Committees to further develop their activities aiming at promoting Sport and Olympism in their respective countries, in particular to facilitate athletes and officials to sports competitions and other major events.

O’Brien disclosed that the GOA made an application to the relevant Government authority for assistance for the waiver of duties and taxes on the Minivan, but was unsuccessful.

He said an appeal was made and the Minister of Finance Ashni Singh has promised to review the matter.

He added that the GOA has been advised that allocation of minivans for this year will be done next month and allocations for 2008 that have not been taken up will be reallocated.

Contacted for a comment yesterday, GOA’s president K. Juman-Yassin confirmed what O’Brien reported and added the Guyana Revenue Authority has advised that there is no provision for sporting bodies to benefit from such concession.

Juman-Yassin further added that the Guyana Red Cross Society, a non Governmental Organisation has found themselves in the same predicament, but they are getting their van from another international organisation.

“If by next month we do not get the duty free concession, we’ll loose out on the deal” Juman-Yassin lamented.