Connell apologizes to Minister Beache

President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association (SVGTA), Grant Connell, has publicly apologised to the Minister of Sports, Glen Beache for not following protocol in a letter, which he wrote to the Sports Minister in May of this year. Connell said it was a clear mistake not bearing the title of “Honourable” in Beache’s name when the letter was written, and it was never intentional. He also said that he did not submit the Association’s financial report and calendar of events. Connell made his disclosure last Wednesday in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT.{{more}} He mentioned that there had been tension boiling between the Tennis Association, the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Council, because they had not attended the National Sports Awards. “It is not about Grant Connell, it is all about tennis,” said Connell. He said that it takes upwards of $5,000 to maintain the tennis facility at Glen, and that he would like to see financial records submitted by the National Sports Council to see how monies are being spent. “It is an obligation of the National Sports Council to submit their financial records,” remarked Connell.

“We have to come together as one unit to help this game of tennis prevail,” said Connell. He understands the problems that existed between him and the Sports Minister, and made it clear to SEARCHLIGHT that he does not want tennis to suffer.

“I know we have some problems between us but we are professionals who need to put these things aside and move forward,” Connell said.

Connell added that St. Vincent and the Grenadines has the best facility in the Caribbean and it should be used to its fullest.

He said that St. Vincent and the Grenadines has the potential to become the hub of tennis by the year 2009, and more emphasis should be placed on tennis, as it is one of the few sports played here that can attract tourism immensely.

Members of the Tennis Association will be traveling to El Salvador on July 31 to attend the Annual General Meeting of the International Tennis Federation. Connell said that they are going to table offers so that the 2007 International Tennis Federation Tournament could be hosted here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.