Dear Editor,
It is with deep regret that the Guyana Volleyball Federation has to respond to a letter, “Female Volleyball players were bullied out of National Sports Hall”, Stabroek News, March 24th, 2022 in the Letter to the Editor’s column. It is the mandate of the GVF to amicably respond to the complaints made in the letter. To commence with, the GVF would like to apologize forthwith, to all and sundry, and will endeavour to not have a repeat of such an occurrence. The Guyana Volleyball Federation did not have prior consent to use the Sports Hall for the tournament. As was stated, this was not known to the females, thus the reason the competition started promptly.
There was another activity slated for the use of the Sports Hall, and it was agreed that the NSC and the GVF activity will cease promptly at five pm in the afternoons. The GVF over spent its time, thus, causing the altercation that ensued. After the complaint was posted on social media, the Federation apologized to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports for the embarrassment caused. To pacify the issue, contact was also made to all concerned, to provide an explanation. To no avail. It is the fault of the GVF to not to have written officially to request the use of the National Sports Hall on the day in question. The GVF would like to promptly state that there is no lack of respect for the female sports of volleyball.
It is being stated, as per quote, “There is very little being done about the level of development and performance of female volleyball in Guyana.” That is not so. Firstly, it is the prerogative of Associations to oversee the development of the sport for both male and female categories. That is not so in all associations. A particular association, which does not have an executive body at the moment, and lacks many commitments to the GVF, its females are still allowed to participate in all of the tournaments held, as we speak/write. A senior female squad was selected to commence training, but a discrepancy arose with that selection and the Federation has pledged to include all the females omitted. We are also pleased to announce that since the inauguration of the nursery by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, we have numerous females being trained to play volleyball, from as young as ten years old at the National Sports Hall, but over 100 in Berbice. At this point, the GVF applauds the Ministry for its initiative to sustain existing teams, and expansion plans for new teams.
The Lennie Schuffler Tournament only used to accommodate males and it was more or less a “scrubby”. The new administration has promoted it to a higher standard and has made it possible also for females to partake. Due to Guyana’s geographical layout, all the teams cannot come out to participate in tournaments, but it was arranged with a representative of the Berbice Volleyball Association to work towards selecting teams by way of competition, to come out and participate. To add, every tournament that is now played, accommodate both males and females.
Three times our Under-21 Male and Female National teams travelled to French Guiana, to participate in the Inter-Guianas Under-21 Years’ Old Tournament. The female contingent saw members from Demerara, Berbice, and, at one time Linden. The Covid -19 pandemic is what stopped that tournament. Senior female teams travelled to Suriname for warm up matches, in preparation to visit Jamaica, same of which was successful. Also a female senior team from Berbice went to Barbados and performed exceedingly well. Even the Under-19 participation at the Inter-Guiana Games had female representation at all the matches. As we write, preparations are being made to have Senior Male and Female teams visit Brazil as part of their preparation for Ecuador.
Last, but not least, the GVF organized a referee’s course via zoom. We have ensured that we have female referees in training. That course is being sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in collaboration with the Guyana Olympic Association. The course is soon coming to a close and successful participants will be clad in appropriate uniform and the necessary kit for refereeing. Editor and all concerned, our explanations have been exhausted. We trust that all involved can comprehend where we are headed. Our Ordinary General Meeting is due to be held shortly. A number of issues are slated to be ironed out. It is our fervent wish not to involve the Ministry for an act which was a flaw on the part of the GVF. We are at the moment having support from the said Ministry for things to go awry. Again to clear the air: the female academy’s training time is what was used to host the tournament, without any prior written request made to the National Sports Commission for the use of the facility.
Sincerely,
Levi Nedd (for)
Guyana Volleyball Federation