Grace McCalman is the new president of the Guyana Tennis Association
(GTA) following its Annual General Meeting (AGM) last Thursday at the Georgetown Cricket Club pavilion, Bourda.
McCalman, a vice president in the previous executive, became the first female to hold the position.
At the AGM six clubs were represented including Georgetown Tennis Club, Roraima Tennis Club, Diamond Tennis Club, Le Ressouvenir Tennis Club, Non Pariel Tennis Club and Park Players Tennis Club.
In the outgoing report, former president Ramesh Seebarran reflected on his term as president of the GTA and pointed to the many tournaments that were held including those sponsored by companies such as Assuria Insurance, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, Trophy Stall and Courts and the annual training camp that was sponsored by P&P Insurance Brokers. He gave a comprehensive account of all activities the GTA participated in between J
anuary and December 2013 as well as the first two months of this year. He thanked the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for its unwavering support which he said was the key to bringing the association thus far and his colleagues on the outgoing GTA board. However, the outgoing president lamented the need for Guyana to have new and better training facilities especially a facility that meets international standards for the hosting of regional and other tournaments with at least six courts along with proper accommodation for players and spectators.
Meanwhile, new president McCalman expressed appreciation for the vote of confidence and committed herself to continuing to work tirelessly for the development of tennis in Guyana. She noted that although she is aware of the challenges which include the need for the GTA to have a permanent home, improving discipline among players and making the coaches association function better, she is very optimistic of clearing these hurdles and taking tennis to a new and higher level.
She recounted her path from helping to reestablish the GTA in 2004 with others and reiterated that her position as president is not intended to change plans because the plans have been sound but said that she will strive to ensure that her executive provides her with the same level of support that she provided over the last few years and that the strength of the executive does not decrease so that the plans can be implemented successfully.
She noted that 2013 was the first year in recent tennis history that the association received support from the government and said this was significant for tennis going forward. A major item on the agenda of the new executive shall be the hosting of Inter Guianas tournament that is slated to be held in Georgetown in late October of this year.
Other executive committee members are: first Vice-President– Andrew Sawh, second Vice-President – Ramesh Seebarran in acting capacity, Secretary – Selma Rahman, Treasurer – Elizabeth Persaud, Committee Members – Rebecca Mitchell, Jamal Goodluck, Tandy Primo, Surendra Khayyam and Waynewright Orderson.
