AAG President Hutson bemoans the struggle of his ‘one man show’

By Jemima Holmes

Approximately one year ago, in the month of June, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) had a tough election. The voting was tied, five votes apiece, between candidates Sheryl Hermonstine and incumbent President Aubrey Hutson.
Eventually, it was said that Hermonstine conceded and Hutson prevailed, to serve his third consecutive term at the helm of the country’s deciding body on track and field.
Now, a year into his third term, the AAG President is encountering some difficulties.
The reality is, whenever the AAG hosts an event, Hutson is the man of the moment. The President, often times, spearheads every aspect of the hosting, with little help.
The opposing argument, however, is that Hutson wants to do it all on his own. Hutson disagrees.

“You all know, you come to this track every time there’s a track and field event and you see me working here diligently. How many more of my colleagues who’re elected do you see out here? And herein lies the problems, we have a lot of talkers and less workers,” Hutson said on Sunday afternoon, during the staging of the National Seniors Championships.
He added, “A man must know when to say when, you know, I’ve tried my best. I’ve done a lot of hard work; my hair at the top of my head is a lot thinner and I’m a lot greyer.”
The topic at hand was whether or not rumours about Hutson wanting to throw in the towel as AAG President were true and while Hutson did not directly give a yes or no answer, the AAG boss lamented the struggles he was currently facing in order to keep athletics afloat in Guyana.
Hutson contended, “If certain dynamics in the AAG don’t change, as it relates to the makeup, composition, of the AAG, I think I may have to walk. Because you cannot give me basket to fetch water.
“And directly, as it relates to dealing with the Athletics Association of Guyana and trying to develop athletics, even Jesus Christ at age 33 called it quits, I’m 58 years of age.”
As expected, the AAG President was asked to expound on his cries, in order to give a clearer picture of where the issue truly lies. To this end, he highlighted assistance and support were often non-existent.
“I think we need more boots on the ground, primarily; this is not a talking sport, this is a working sport and unless people are being prepared to come out here and work and do the necessary legwork that is important for the furtherance of the sport, it isn’t going to happen,” Hutson answered.
He went on to say, “You can’t have Aubrey Hutson mounting the cameras, being the competition and at the same time, having to deal with what the athletes are going to wear, going to the Caribbean Games tomorrow. I mean, all those questions come together.”
Supporting his argument with an issue that came up only on Sunday, Hutson said, “Chantoba Bright just questioned me, ‘Where are our running clothes? We’re leaving tomorrow.’ So, somebody else needs to take up that mantle, somebody else who knows that it’s their role to deal with it, to deal with correspondence on a timely basis; have to do what they have to do.”
Hutson was bold enough to point out that a part of the problem surrounds the willingness – or lack thereof – of council members to get up and get work done, highlighting that he does not have the power to force anyone out or force them to work.
He explained, “Just like how the clubs would have re-elected me as President, they elected all of them. So, it’s not the case that I have a cabinet that I could hire and fire, but unless the composition of the team changes, I will have to go.”
“I honestly don’t know what mechanisms can be used (to get them involved), I have to revisit the Constitution, but something has to give.”
Hutson concluded sternly, “People need to get out here and work. People just can’t be sitting down and telling themselves that everything is alright and the show keeps going on.”