By Royston Alkins
The Interim Management Committee of the Guyana Netball Association plans to set a date for this year’s Annual General Meeting possibly by early February.This is according to Randolph Critchlow, chairman of the IMC.
Former national netball players Lavern Fraser-Thomas, who was part of the previous executive, yesterday confirmed the need for election off office bearers for 2017. Fraser-Thomas, in an invited comment said: “According to the constitution, the present executive has outlived its life. “The National Sports Commission (NSC) in October of 2016, held a meeting with the stakeholders of the sport and commissioned an Interim Management Committee (IMC),” she explained.
Critchlow was appointed chairman of the IMC.
Meanwhile Director of Sports, Christopher Jones said that he expects a resurgence of Netball in Guyana in.There has been little activity in the sport locally because the present executive is unconstitutional.
Jones in a telephone interview yesterday said: “The roles and objectives of the IMC would be to seek out persons who have an interest in the sport and to build a programme/programmes that will ensure the growth of netball in Guyana.” Jones, who has been adamant about having proper and recognized administrating sporting bodies in place, in order to receive NSC funding said: “In terms of the NSC, we have funding in place for all the associations including the netball association.
“It is just for them to hold their election which is constitutionally mandated and this should be held in February, this would allow for the association to access the much needed funding it needs to push the sport to where it needs to be,” he added.
Critchlow, who considers himself as the ‘de facto’ chairman of the IMC, said: “The body had just about two or three meetings which was poorly attended.” However, the chairman agreed with Jones with respect to the staging of elections in February. Critchlow, who was the former vice-president of the association, pointed out that he is currently crafting a document that would see the transformation of the sport across the country and plans to share it with anyone who would be interested in running for a position on the new executive.
“It was challenging working with the IMC but I have been drafting a document that I plan to share in the coming weeks.” The former national athlete, expressed his intention of running for the post of president of the association in next month’s elections and said he had a few positive suggestions that can revive the sport.
“I have suggested working with the One Act Foundation to attract girls who are interested in the sport while at the same time foster a programme that will impact their lives. We also need to approach the ministry and get the game back into the school system, attract persons who have the requisite knowledge to coach and push the sport forward.”
Commenting on what transpired in years gone by Critchlow said: “Persons had become lethargic and hadn’t much belief in getting things done, I believe that a fresh body with fresh minds, fresh eyes and a common vision will move the sport to where it needs to be,” he concluded.
