BSA disrespected NSC – NSC manager

Manager of the National Sports Council (NSC) Jomadean May has opined that the Barrouallie Sports Association’s (BSA) decision to go ahead with the start of its 2016 Football Tournament on August 7 at the Keartons Playing Field, without a binding agreement between the two parties, was an act of “disrespect”.{{more}}

May’s assessment came following a series of events which led to the entities being at loggerheads over user fees.

The sticking point was the refusal by president of the BSA Lorson Lewis to sign the agreement pertaining to the conditions of operations and the user fee of $350 for the Keartons Playing Field, for the duration of the tournament.

This stand-off between the BSA and the NSC, which also warranted the intervention of the police, was highlighted in SEARCHLIGHT’s midweek edition of August 9.

May, in response to what transpired, gave the NSC’s stance on the issue with the BSA.

May told SEARCHLIGHT last Wednesday: “The opening of the Barrouallie Football Tournament by the Barrouallie Sports Association was a lack of respect and defiance for the National Sports Council’s policies, which are protected by an Act… It was to my surprise that the BSA went ahead to open the tournament without the Council’s permission.”

The NSC manager reasoned that the BSA did not sign on to the terms and conditions, and should not have gone ahead and opened the tournament.

May said that the BSA violated the National Sports Council’s Act of 1988 and “broke the law by starting its tournament.”

He made reference to part IV, paragraph 18, section d, which states: “Anyone who enters or attempts to enter any playing field and/or stadium or make use of any facilities under the control of the Council, by means of any other method than a prescribed method, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500.00 or imprisonment for a term of 6 months or both.”

May said that through the entire back and forth, the BSA painted a picture to the general public that the NSC was obstructive to sports in the Barrouallie community and by extension, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“It is unfair for the BSA to try tarnish the Council’s reputation by suggesting to the people of the community that the Council is trying to stop football in an effort to turn the community from the Council…. Any rational person can see the problem with sports in the communities is not the Council, but the associations that are led with arrogance and ignorance instead of good sense,” May echoed.

May said that following the opening of the tournament on Sunday, he journeyed to Barrouallie on Monday and with the help of officers at the Barrouallie Police Station, sought to put an end to the matter, including Lewis’ signing of the agreement document, which was achieved.

However, more was to come between the BSA and the NSC, as the former was served with an eviction notice for office space it currently occupies at the Keartons Playing Field.

In a letter dated August 8 and addressed to Lewis, May, in his capacity as manager of the NSC, wrote: “It was brought to the Council’s attention that the Barrouallie Sports Association (BSA) occupies a room at the Keartons Playing Field… There is no documentation that reflects the Council giving the BSA permission to occupy the premises under any condition.”

Hence, the BSA was given a two-week window, between August 8 and 22, to remove all its belongings from the room.

May ended his letter by informing the BSA: “The Council requires all keys to the premises to be handed into the Barrouallie Area Management Committee or the Council’s offices at Arnos Vale … Failure to do so will have the matter handed over to the police that will ensure the Council’s policies are respected”.(RT)