A three-member team of officials from the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) visited Linden on Thursday as part of the association’s countrywide development plan.
Senior vice president of the GTTA Harold Hopkinson along with junior vice president Dr. Pradeep Balram and Public Relations Officer, Patrick Triumph, met with members of the Linden Steering Committee on the way forward for the resuscitation of the Linden Table Tennis Association (LTTA).
The meeting which was held at the Linmine Constabulary Hall saw also children from the Mackenzie High School and the Linden Technical Institute in attendance as the GTTA outlined its plans for table tennis across Guyana.
The Steering Committee, headed by Lethem Wilson and comprising Robert Langevine, Joe Chapman and Judy Gravesande–Noel, Ray `Copter’ Anderson and Howard James, is now tasked with the full responsibility to resuscitate the game.
According to veteran player and International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Level Two coach, Anderson, elections are scheduled for tomorrow.
Hopkinson told the gathering that the current GTTA‘S executive took over in August last year and the intention is to decentralize the sport throughout Guyana.
He said that the resuscitation of the Linden association was essential and it is mandated from the president of the GTTA, Police Commissioner, Henry Greene.
Dr. Balram noted that the GTTA president has been very active in pushing the promotion of the sport, a view supported by Triumph, who added that the association was looking to have tennis tables at all schools in Guyana.
Wilson thanked the GTTA officials saying that their intentions were good for the sport and promised to get things moving forward.
It was also announced that another ITTF Level One Coaching clinic will be held.
Chapman spoke of the invaluable contribution given to the sport by the late table tennis coach and pioneer of the LTTA in the 1970s Milton George. The GTTA delegation acknowledged that George’s contribution should not go unnoticed and promised some recognition for George’s unselfish service to the game’s development.
Anderson spoke of the plans for coaching particularly in the schools across Linden in the first instance and in other areas in Region 10 Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani.
The GTTA acknowledged that there was need to assist Linden, an area which had produced top quality players in the past including former junior national champions Horace Benjamin and Marlon Washington.
Others who were able to wear national colours were Kay Blair, Auric Tappin and Gary Stephens while making a name for themselves over the years were Kenneth ‘Gummy’ John, Lennox Stephens, Kevin Stephens and Steffan Barrow.
Three tables are already in the mining town to be distributed to locations on the east and west bank of Linden and they were made possible compliments of businessmen Dunstan Barrow and Beresford Harry and Assistant Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine.
A fourth table is expected shortly and the locations for these tables are the Supervisors’ Club, Linmine Constabulary Hall, Beresford Youth Club and the Linden Technical Institute
Chief Security Officer of the Linmine Constabulary, Superintendent Leslie Nedd, thanked the GTTA officials for visiting Linden as part of their outreach programme while the donors came in for special mention. Nedd also acknowledged the presence of the school children and the members of the Steering Committee.
