NSC chairman to quit October 31

Chairman of the National Sports Council Carlton “Teddy” James will quit the post, effective October 31.{{more}}

James confirmed this to SEARCHLIGHT Wednesday and said his resignation letter has reached the relevant authorities.

James, in revealing the main reason for his decision, stated: “The board is being guided in the wrong direction; the whole administration from the top.”

James, who has chaired the Council for past five years, said that under his chairmanship, there have been a lot of pluses.

He said that during his stewardship, he brought some of his private sector best practices to bear on the National Sports Council.

“I am a private sector man and I was able to carry private sector training and discipline, for example, I have never used my influence as chairman for any political or personal reason … I have always used the employment of staff to necessity,” James said.

James, though, would like to see some changes in the operations of the Council.

“We have inherited a staff which is not trainable … today to carry a facility, … it calls for a lot of science in terms of pitch preparation, manicuring and the caring of the outfield and who we have we cannot make them redundant,” James stated.

In continuing his recommendations for some organizational reconfiguration, James said: “You need somebody who is in charge of the facility in terms of an operations superintendent … We need someone with a science background. We need certified persons who are trained and who are trainable”.

At present, former St Vincent and the Grenadines, Windward Islands and West Indies fast bowler Ian Allen is acting operations superintendent.

Allen replaced Lauron Baptiste, who served in the substantive post from November 2008 to March of this year.

James said it was an honour and privilege to head an organisation with millions of dollars in assets.

“It was a challenge, but all in all it was good … to function at the top of … an organisation of that magnitude,” James surmised.

The NSC within recent times has gone through two major personnel changes.

Long standing manager, Osborne Browne was last September replaced by Cecil Charles, albeit in an acting post.

Earlier this month, Lance John, a former St Vincent and the Grenadines, Windward Islands, and Combined Islands opening batsman, was appointed manager. (RT)