Despite the harsh treatment meted out to Commonwealth Games 400 metres Silver medalist Aliann Pompey, she remains a remarkable ambassador for her country and it is only fair that she is given more credence for what she has achieved not only for herself but for the land of her birth – Guyana.
Pompey has kept Guyana’s flag flying and while she has continued to bring glory and honour to this country her achievements are hardly recognized nor has she received tangible support from home. Pompey, who lives in the United States of America, has been saddled with the responsibility of studying and training in her quest to make it to the world stage while many athletes the world over have received support through sponsorships, grants and in some cases governmental assistance. Her previous Commonwealth Games Gold medal eight years ago was no ordinary feat when she clocked 51:63 seconds in winning at the Manchester Games in the United Kingdom.
It might have been a tough call in naming the 2010 Sportswoman of the Year because there were a few sterling performances for our female sportswomen last year with Pompey and world boxing champion Shondell Alfred battling for the ultimate prize which Alfred eventually won. This petite athlete has always been consistent and despite not winning an Olympic medal over the years another great achievement was her first place finish in the 400 metres at the IAAF Grand Prix in neighbouring Brazil in 2004. A few journalists have highlighted the indignity and scant regard meted out to this very humble and polite daughter of the soil.. Letter writers to the media and had also called on the government to honour Pompey in a tangible way but to date this has not been forthcoming. While it is the general feeling that the government should really step forward and reward Pompey for her achievements, one can hardly decipher the snub given to Pompey by none other that the association that should be representing her, the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG). Only recently another of Guyana’s outstanding female athlete Marian Burnett lamented her plight and frustration in preparation for international competition and recovery from injuries with little support from the country she represents. Last Sunday’s AAG Presentation and Awards ceremony was nothing but slap to the face of this Pompey who was over looked for the AAG Sportswoman of Year award.
In looking at the selection process, one got the feeling that the AAG and the Progressive Youth Club is one and the same since a little known athlete, Natasha Alder was voted Sportswoman of the Year. How could our Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K.A. Juman-Yassin be part of such an event without admonishing the AAG for their poor foresight in not naming Pompey for the top prize?
The newspaper headlines should have read, “AAG snubs Pompey at awards ceremony”, in reaction to the athlete not being voted Sportswoman for 2010.
We can only think that these politicians and sports administrators are offering lip service when instead they should be the ones pushing for Pompey to be properly honoured for her contribution to Guyana. The GOA President in delivering his address at the AAG function made mention of Pompey’s intended return to Guyana in a few weeks time to receive her National Runner-up Sports Award from the National Sports Commission.
It takes a strong -willed person to suffer such indignity yet continue to show a good face being the ambassador she is.
Pompey’s visit should be one that she should remember because this country owes her a debt of gratitude.
