National Stadium Manager Anthony Xavier is disputing claims made by PPP/C Member of Parliament Odinga Lumumba and Hits and Jams Entertainment, that they were not informed of debts owed for use of the facility before the publication of a notice asking them to settle accounts.
A notice in Saturday’s Kaieteur News said Lumumba, Hits and Jams as well as the Kashif and Shanghai organisation should make contact with the Ministry of Education’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport or the National Stadium Manager’s office at the earliest to settle accounts.
When contacted on Saturday, Rawle Ferguson of Hits and Jams told Stabroek News that he was unclear as to what exactly the notice refers to. This position was maintained by a spokesperson for Hits and Jams, who yesterday said that the company only became aware of the supposed debt through the notice in the newspaper.
“We were not informed either by calls or a letter about a debt for the use of the stadium,” the spokesperson said.
Kashif Muhammad, of the Kashif and Shanghai organisation, stated that his organisation will be meeting ministry officials today, after which it is expected that they will be in a position to make a public statement on the matter.
Lumumba, who freely admits that the Alpha United Football Club, of which he is president, owes monies for the use of the stadium’s facilities, also claims to have received no notice of the debt.
Lumumba contends that he advised the club not to pay the debt because he found out that the ministry was “discriminating against football.”
He also maintains that the ministry would have to officially write to him, saying how much he owes before he is willing to even consider paying.
While Xavier was unable at the time he was contacted to give complete information about the extent of the debts of the three, he adamantly disputed their claims that they were not informed of their debts.
In the case of Lumumba, he stated that the managing body of the stadium called him several times in an attempt to recoup what amounts to over $600,000 in debt. Each time Lumumba was contacted, he reportedly said, “I don’t have any money.”
Xavier is also incensed by claims made by the former presidential adviser that there is a practise of attaching discriminatory charges to football games.
Lumumba had told Stabroek News that stadium was charging significantly more money for football than cricket.
“They were charging cricket a very small amount around $60,000 to $100,000 while football, which they know is a black people thing, getting charge $400,000,” he said.
Xavier feels that Lumumba’s comments, which he said gave racial overtones to the situation, were ridiculous.
“For a Member of Parliament to make such comments is ridiculous and goes a long way towards telling you what type of character the person has,” Xavier said.
Permanent Secretary of the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport Alfred King had explained on Saturday that commercial activities held at the stadium are governed by a contractual arrangement where costs are calculated based on the nature of activity and facilities which are to be used.
“For example, costs are attached to the use of stage, lighting, security, staff and other general facilities,” he said.
