President of the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson has quashed recent reports of the boiling ‘concerns of the association’, labelling the allegations as “totally inaccurate and false”.
According to some members within the Track and Field fraternity who spoke under the condition of anonymity, the AAG under the leadership of Hutson has not submitted audited financial statements.
Hutson is also accused of delaying its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and election of Office Bearers which was scheduled to be held in January.
The AAG head went on record to clarify those allegations. “As far as I can recall and as stated in the Minutes of our meetings, audited financial statements were submitted at our AGMs” said Hutson who added “We are in preparation to hold our AGM shortly and I can assure you that an audited financial statement will be presented. To say otherwise is totally inaccurate and false.”
Hutson then explained that the current COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictive measures are the main reasons for the delay in holding the AGM.
“We are in the middle of a pandemic and finding a location that can house the number of representatives that constitutionally should be at the AGM has proven to be a bit difficult.” He added that letters were sent out with amendments to the various clubs requesting that the number of representatives to be reduced from three to one per club.
The AAG according to Hutson is still awaiting responses from some of the clubs.
Hutson went on to state that the AAG is working within the parameters of the COVID-19 Task Force requirements for assembly and also has a mandate to keep the sport active since this is an Olympic year.
“We still have to keep Track and Field running regardless of the administrative standpoint and we still have the task of getting athletes to the Olympics and charting a course for them to get there in terms of keeping meets etc.”
The AAG president averred that his primary focus remains on the athletes and their success.
“My priority is the athletes and some of these administrators who are critical of us not doing what is administratively correct, are the people who don’t support the initiative of putting the athletes first. I am going to continue to do what I have to do but in the meantime, I know it is an obligation we [the AGM)] must meet and those letters would have gone out.”
Hutson then concluded that the modus operandi of most federations and organisations worldwide have undergone changes due to the pandemic.
“If you look around the world, things have changed, even locally, the GOA had put off their AGM which is normally held before us [the AAG] until after the Olympics because the Olympics were postponed. I think people who are complaining should understand the trend that is going on in the world of sports before they make unfounded criticisms.”
