decentralisation and school programmes
AFTER numerous discussions over the years where he repeatedly voiced his concerns to the executives of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) about what he would like to see happen in terms of the association’s development of the sport locally, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dr. Frank Anthony said that he recently struck a deal with the GTTA that will lead to the accomplishment of at least one of his aims.
At last  Friday’s presentation ceremony for the recently concluded Independence Table Tennis Tournament Anthony revealed that he has been prompting the association to run off more tournaments, conduct more developmental programmes and to bring about the decentralization of the sport of table tennis the latter of those being the most feasible at the moment.
The GTTA’s deal that they struck with the India-based Stag Table Tennis Equipment Manufacturer is the vehicle being used to conduct the decentralization effort as the Minister has offered to take care of the freight charges that will be incurred to transport the containers of equipment to Guyana.
The GTTA will therefore give the ministry the tables that they are currently using, which will become superfluous when they receive the shipment of new tables and equipment from Stag, to distribute throughout the various regions and bring about the decentralization of the sport.
Another stipulation of the agreement is that the GTTA will give the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport 25 tables out of that equipment stockpile every year for the duration of the three-year contract with Stag to be distributed to 25 schools to boost the installation of table tennis in the school system.
Minister Anthony noted that this will complement the programme that was hosted last year which trained 25 teachers from schools all over the country in coaching techniques as a lack of equipment is the only hindrance preventing them from employing their training.
The GTTA also received many commendations at the presentation ceremony for running another successful tournament from Director of Sport of the National Sports Commission, Neil Kumar, who acknowledged the fact that the event did not attract any bad publicity.
Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene was also singing praises for what he deemed as a very encouraging show by the youngsters who participated.
Greene, himself, being a former table tennis champion reflected on how the sport aided in his development by keeping him away from crime. And because of the inspiring performance by the youngsters Greene pledged his support for the national championships and other endeavours of the GTTA.