Dear Editor,
Kindly allow me space in your widely read newspaper, to clarify and correct some glaring inaccuracies in a letter which appeared in your Saturday’s edition (23-04-22), written by Mr. Clifton Conway, former Assistant Commissioner of Police and entitled `The CARIFTA Games debacle began before the team left Guyana’.
Firstly, Editor, the acts of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) are certainly together and there was no debacle before the CARIFTA team left Guyana for Jamaica.
Secondly, it was not our most successful team. Please do your research Mr. Conway.
Thirdly, there was a hiccup when the Jamaican authorities requested US$45 for the Covid test after previously informing the AAG that the cost would have been US$25 each. Any reasonable official would have queried that change in cost.
Fourthly, meals and accommodation were paid for prior to the team departing the shores of Guyana. So there was never a food or housing crisis.
Fifthly, every athlete who made the qualifying standard was on the team and travelled to Jamaica for the games. Aaliyah Headley and Osa Blair are not coached by Lyndon Wilson, (not Lynden).
Sixthly, the athletes mentioned in the letter by Mr. Conway were considered because they were close to the set standards but did not attain them. To now claim they were likely to medal is a fantasy.
Mr. Conway’s arguments in my opinion had a hidden agenda. I say this because no mention was made of Hannah Joseph who was the closest non-qualifier and did not travel on the team.
In conclusion I think the former assistant Commissioner was either misinformed, is wicked or somewhere in between.
As an official who is involved in the team selection process; I find it dishonest and/or disrespectful for a former high ranking former police officer to cause to be published in the daily newspapers a letter with such glaring inaccuracies.
Yours respectfully,
Keith Campbell
Council member, (AAG)