– GASA president Scott says clubs claims untrue

THE Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Charles Ramson Jr and President of the Guyana Olympic Association, Godfrey Munroe, after a meeting with swimming stakeholders have pulled their support from the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA).

That support will remain ‘dried up’ until they resolve a number of pending issues raised by its member clubs and concerned individuals.
The issues with the swimming body reached its peak after it banned local clubs Dolphin and Tridents swim clubs for varying periods after their members disrupted an ongoing GASA- organised swim meet by jumping into the pool.

Several meetings organised by the Ministry and National Sports Commission, aimed at a resolution between the two sides, have failed to settle the matter.
One of the clubs–Dolphin–has since written the World Aquatics Ethics and Disciplinary Committee (WAEDC) for their intervention in the matter.

Subject minister Charles Ramson Jr on Thursday meet with clubs representatives to hear all of their concerns, after meeting the GASA executives a day earlier.
Following both meetings, the minister and the GOA concluded that the body’s actions were counterproductive and as such they will not deal with the GASA.

Some of the reasons cited for this position has to do with the alleged non-submission of audited financial reports and claims of unfair treatment of athletes, unfair usage of the government’s pool, the exerting of undue influence by a top local coach and the non-acceptance of new swim clubs into the association.

The minister says they will not offer further financial support to the swimming body until these issues are addressed, adding: “Until this situation is rectified, GASA will no longer received [sic] support from the ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the National Sports Commission and the President of the Guyana Olympic Association advised me that they will not receive any support from them either.”

Minister Ramson added, ‘You have got to get GASA to get their house in order now and as quickly as they can do that, then certain things can get back to normalcy,” Ramson told stakeholders.
One of the changes from the government’s end will be the creation and the administering of a new schedule for the usage of the National Aquatic Centre, effective immediately.

He said, “We are inviting representatives to sit with the National Sports Commission so that we can work a schedule for all the clubs. We also would like clubs where possible to consider time usage and obviously share times for both pools. GASA is not going to be using the pool that we provide to strong arm and bully persons or clubs or to restrict membership.”
The minister also called for the clubs and individuals aggrieved to provide written statements which will accompany their letter to the World Aquatics body.

He indicated that they (government) has no intension of administering the sport here for fear of being barred from international competitions, but its aim is to have an equal playing field for all athletes and clubs.

Guyana Olympic Association President Godfrey Munroe also confirmed that these issues were raised on multiple occasions with GASA but to no avail.
Munroe said, “Our concern from the GOA side is that this has been an ongoing problem with GASA. We have had several meetings as it relates to GASA and trying to resolve issues and we know that in sport that they would have challenges, but I think the nonchalant approach in not addressing these issues is one that is disheartening.”

Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association Dwayne Scott disagreed with the position, saying that the body is in good standing with the relevant bodies.
‘GASA has been in good standing with World Aquatics, with Panam Aquatics, with the Guyana Olympic Association and with the National Sports Commission. Annually, we complete financial statements and these financial statements are served to everyone as a show of our level of accountability as it relates to financial management; we had no financial mismanagement.”
Scott says that he has never had any issues under his stewardship with regard to financial resources being misused and this will remain the case.

He countered by saying that the management of the pool is one that is reasonable, with time allotted equally to all and sundry, adding, “GASA does not control the pool, the pool is maintained by the National Sports Commission; the pool is afforded to GASA by the NSC and we are allotted time being 5-8 am in the mornings (week days) and Saturdays and 4-7 pm.”

He continued, “We then utilise this time through the allotment of lanes to the clubs; each club in Georgetown (of which there are five) are allotted two lanes to conduct their activities, GASA doesn’t monitor this, we don’t charge for this, it’s afforded free to everyone as it is provided to us.”

According to Scott, what obtains is what has been recommended by the technical committee which was endorsed by the general council and the executive, once the clubs agreed with the proposal.

The administrator says as it relates to discrimination, many accusations have been directed at GASA, but none have been substantiated.
“Facts are critical, everybody can say they have been discriminated against; what is the fact, we have had many people who claimed there have [sic] been discrimination under the auspices of GASA, when you get down to it, none have been founded, it’s a case in which you either qualify or you don’t qualify. You swim the time or you don’t swim the time; you are quick enough or you are not quick enough and that has nothing to do with GASA, but with your preparation and your ability to perform, and all that we do is transparent and when we have a meet, the information is recorded and published for all to see.”