“Both the athletes and administration have the same goals for our country. Let us find a way to achieve these results with as little complications as possible. This can only be accomplished through proper communication,” said Thompson yesterday, who took to social media (Facebook) to vent some of his and his fellow athletes frustration about a statement made by an official at the Ministry, who allegedly stated that the athletes were not compliant with the format for receiving funding.
“To begin with, the method in which we submitted our information to receive funding to prepare for 2016 was no different to the past eight years. People like Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Emmanuel Callender, Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, as well as members of the 4x400 metres London Olympics bronze medal team have all followed the precedented procedure,” said Thompson, the national record-holder in the 100m, with a personal best of 9.82.
He continued: “I understand that based on questionable actions (unrelated to the athletes) from previous administrations, that this current administration has to avoid a recurrence of such issues. However, in order for there to be a smooth transition, and fair overlap for the athletes, a certain level of discretion and common sense has to be exercised.”
According to Thompson, in order to be reimbursed money spent to prepare for last season, the national athletes are to present receipts from two years ago (2014-15).
“Had this been the procedure that we followed for close to a decade, or had there been some sort of indication that physical receipts were going to be demanded, we would have kept them and gladly turned them in.”
Thompson relented that while they should have been in training mode and preparing for Rio, athletes’ focus were derailed with issues that they should not have been.
“The Ministry has a system in place that is intended to help and facilitate athletes representing the country, but instead we feel as though they are against us and have become directly vindictive in the process of trying to stiff arm us.
“The sensible thing for them to do would have been to acknowledge the fact that there was a different system prior to their governance and facilitate our preparations with warning that there was going to be a different procedure being introduced moving forward, and failure to comply with that would result in ineligibility to receive funds. Simple!
“Instead, they have made this into an administration versus athlete issue and many athletes across many different sporting disciplines have been left stranded. Contrary to popular belief, several Olympians/national athletes do not have contracts, and depend solely on the government’s assistance to prepare. When funding comes late, or not at all, the chances of having the success that the entire country expects are slim to none.”
Thompson made specific references to sprinters Marc Burns and Ade Alleyne-Forte, who have not received funding since 2013.
“These are both London 2012 Olympic medalists. In efforts to mount the podium again in 2016 they reached out to the government in Olympic desperation to no avail. Alleyne-Forte was forced to find a night job in order to cover some of his very basic needs and stayed by Jarrin Solomon’s dad because he couldn’t afford to pay rent.”
Thompson indicated that he tried to make contact with Sports Minister Darryl Smith late last year but to no avail.
“In November, I messaged the Minister via WhatsApp with a humble request to come to the office to have a conversation about these same issues. No reply! Mind you, this is the day after I was asked to accompany him at the track for a media release. Pictures, hand shakes, the usual ‘politicking’. Then Casper came into effect.
“I do not want to hear from any more ‘anonymous’ sources from the Ministry. This is what we have a Minister for, to address issues like these, not delegate responsibility. I have tried to cooperate with Minister Smith and his officials without having to make public statements but he has failed to deliver so I’m left with no other choice.”
The Minister was contacted yesterday, who advised that he was still attending a conference and to contact National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) president Ephraim Serrette who will provide the whole story. When Serrette was contacted he said that he had no comment and that this is an issue for the Ministry to resolve.
