Dear Editor,
Immense things happened over the weekend within the track and field fraternity. Firstly, a specialist, Mr Allan Babolall (Secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago National Amateur Athletic Association), was brought in to train officials from the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) to operate the Fully Automatic Timing (FAT) system. It was reported that this was successfully done. Secondly, the AAG has reportedly successfully tested the FAT system at the Inter-clubs Relay Championship. It is also worth noting that this particular event has now broken an 8 year hiatus. The Aubrey Hutson administration must be lauded for the accomplishments! Kudos to the AAG!
Notwithstanding the aforementioned attainments, the AAG continues to show total disregard for meritocracy with respect to team selection for overseas competitions. Jason Yaw was questionably selected to represent Guyana in Canada at the Pan American Junior Championships. Apparently, selection is left to the whims and fancies of the key AAG executive with total disregard for due process.
It was not the first time Jason Yaw didn’t compete at trials but was selected by the AAG. I do hope it is the last. He is one of the best junior athletes Guyana has ever seen. He has a reputable athletic résumé, however, he didn’t compete at the national junior championship which was touted to be the yardstick for qualifying for overseas teams.
Editor, in the past, I would have used your column to highlight the need for a national selection policy. Additionally, I would have aired my concern to the relevant parties. Perhaps it all fell on deaf ears.
I would like an executive of the AAG to respond to the following questions: Why weren’t outstanding national junior champions Arinze Chance (200m and 400m) and Ornesto Thomas (800m and 1500m) selected? What criteria were used for Yaw’s selection? Based on the criteria, was he the only qualifier? How much longer must these acts be condoned? How much longer will they continue to push talent out of the sport due to acts of favouritism? When will there be accountability and transparency in team selection? And again, when will there be a national selection policy?
That being said, I wish all three of our teams going to the upcoming games well. Those are the Pan American Championships, Pan American Junior Championships and the World Youth Championships. I know that Guyana will be wonderfully represented.
Yours faithfully,
Elton Bollers
