ENGINEER/Businessman Samuel Barakat was voted in as president of the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA), following elections at the National Resource Centre recently.
William Skeete was the other GLTA presidential candidate, but Barakat who gained the nod of the clubs will take over from former president Jamal Goodluck.
Barakat will have reigning female player-of-the-year Cristy Campbell and Robin Singh as his vice-presidents, while Molly Hassan will serve as secretary, Tina Rama is the assistant treasurer and Ramesh Seebaran is the association’s treasurer. William Skeete is the assistant secretary/treasurer.
Illeana Boodhoo, Nigel Niles, Dellon Fraser and Jason Andrews are the committee members and Grace McCalmon was named a life member of the GLTA.
In outlining his goals and objectives for his tenure at the helm of the GLTA, Barakat said emphasis will be placed on club development, allowing for the growth of the eight affiliated clubs in the area of coaching education and youth tournaments with support from the GLTA.
Barakat also pointed out that the GLTA under his watch will look to “establish tennis courts and clubs in all the regions with the support of all the relevant government administration”.
“Private sector involvement in sponsoring a tournament every month, fund-raising activities to assist with players international travel and the development of coach training progression programmes, with the assistance of GOA, COTECC, ITF and government,” is also earmarked.
Over the last eight years, according to Barakat, not enough progress was made with regard to facilities, stating that he intends to work with Government to help provide “acceptable facilities for local playing and coaching,” further relating that “all the state facilities are in deplorable conditions and not accepted to any standards.”
“This is disappointing especially since two recent facilities built were below standard, while private courts are well constructed and maintained. All the countries in our regions have acceptable facilities, Nickerie a little town in Suriname have facilities of acceptable standard that our country doesn’t have,” said Barakat.
