– Dr McDonald

NEWSPAPER columnist Dr Ian McDonald is of the view that the non- submission of names for the National Sports Commission’s Sportsman/Woman-of-the-Year award is a reflection of poor sports administration in Guyana.

Dr McDonald, shortly before a panel of judges which comprised sports journalists/reporters and sports administrators deliberated on who were the country’s best sports performers for the year 2013, said some associations/federations failed to make submissions year in, year out and this type of behaviour is a reflection of sports in Guyana.
Dr McDonald, a former local lawn tennis champion noted that out of 33 associations/federations registered with the National Sports Commission (NSC), a mere 13 made submissions.
He stressed the fact that even though associations know and are reminded that each year the panel will meet in February to decide who the best performers are, they wait for the last minute to make their submissions.
According to McDonald, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados announced their Sportsmen/Women since in January and he wondered why Guyana cannot do the same.
McDonald said it would be extremely useful if each association submit a brief to the NSC yearly, stating what they achieved during the year, what their athletes accomplished.
This he said would make the work of the panellists much easier.
He pointed out that most associations’ submissions do not state what their nominee achieved for the year, but rather they state the athletes’ career performance.
He made an example of Guyana and West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul who was subsequently voted Guyana’s Sportsman-of-the-Year 2013, where he said the Guyana Cricket Board, instead of outlining what Chanderpaul did for last year, they (GCB) submitted Chanderpaul’s entire career.
Instead he said, the Guyana Hockey Board nominated Chanderpaul for the Sportsman-of-the-Year award and in their submission (GHB) stated his performance for last year.
Dr McDonald also called on all associations to create a Hall of Fame saying the selection of Guyana’s Sportsman/Woman-of-the-Year is a yearly thing “but as a panel, we want to see associations create a Hall of Fame to showcase their athletes’ Heritage and Legacy”.
He pointed out also that it is imperative that every sports association should have a history of their athletes.
Director of Sport Neil Kumar echoed McDonald’s concern and said the non-submission of names for the national sports awards as well as late submission by associations is very worrying and action will be taken against defaulters.

(By Michael DaSilva)