-say Ramson & Munroe concerning GOA’s new executives
GOA President meeting Sport Minister Charles Ramson jr
The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has finally seen a changing of the guard after close to three decades, when, on Tuesday last, Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) President Godfrey Munroe was elected President of that body.
The GOA Executive Committee comprises Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) President Steve Ninvalle, Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) President Cristy Campbell, and Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) President Phillip Fernandes, who all hold places on the National Sports Commission (NSC).
While this may be seen as a point for contention, Munroe has shot down any such eventuality by highlighting that bigger Olympic Associations around the globe have collaborative ties with Government.
“I think that’s a myth of somebody’s imagination. But it emphasizes the point that, ultimately, as Minister said, the persons who might be spewing that might not understand what alignment means; and if you want to achieve results, we won’t focus on that,” the newly elected GOA President said bluntly during a courtesy call on the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport on Tuesday last.
“At that committee level, we want to focus on the positive engagements and move forward in a structured manner. So, I would dismiss that,” Munroe has said.
Munroe detailed his position by stating, “The stronger associations, in terms of the Olympic committees that had great success, are the ones that have great partnerships with their Government. Because, as Minister alluded, you need alignment; resources are key, and how it’s used to benefit the athletes (is) very critical in terms of the strategies that we adopt. And collaboration is key to achieving those goals.”
Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. shared similar sentiments in pointing out that all those administrators held their presidential offices before he was appointed a Minister of Government.
“All of these folks here are leaders of their respective organizations. They were there and leading their respective organizations, some folks even before I got into Government. In fact, every single person here, everyone, was there before I got into Government,” Ramson reasoned.
The Sport Minister further alluded, “A lot of times, when people are looking for something to cling on – where, especially in a competitive situation, they have to clamour for votes and look for votes and know how they’re going to get support – they have to find an argument sometimes, if they’re going to persuade people.”
The Sport Minister went on to share that collaboration between the two entities is in the interest of what is best for Guyana’s athletes.
“The contention that had been raised in relation to whether any sport federation/ association should have a strong relationship with Government is that it should not be so… They haven’t understood that there is only one objective in this situation. There is only one objective; the objective is: we want our athletes on podiums representing Guyana in the best possible way,” Ramson jr. posited.
The Minister questioned, “How is that distinct in our objectives from Government versus any of the Associations?”
The GOA Executive had their first meeting with Sport Minister Ramson on Wednesday last, following Tuesday evening’s election at Olympic House, Liliendaal. (Jemima Holmes)
