Fees being enforced so National Sports Council can sustain itself – May

The user fees currently being charged by the National Sports Council (NSC) for the use of sporting facilities have always been on the books.

Jomadean May, manager of the National Sports Council, made this clear yesterday, stressing that there have been no increases in user fees for the use of the sporting facilities under the jurisdiction and management of the NSC.{{more}}

May spoke to SEARCHLIGHT after concerns had been raised about fees being charged for the hosting of events.

The matter was made public last week when Team Athletics SVG was charged $150 by the NSC for the hosting of its mini meets outside the main Arnos Vale One venue.

The user fee for Arnos Vale One for a mini meet carries a user fee of $500. Fees for other championships hosted at Arnos Vale One, such as the National Team Championships, the Hurdles Classic, Carifta trials and the National Juvenile Championships were put at $500.

Two-day National Championships bear a cost of $1,000.

But May noted, “The fees were always in place; it is that they were never enforced…There is also a caution fee which is supposed to be made, but we don’t make it mandatory.”

He further explained that what is presently being enforced dates back to the tariff of 2007.

For the use of other facilities on the Arnos Vale venue, the tariff shows the user fee per event for the President’s Suite – $500; Players Pavilion – $500, Administrative Centre – $150 and the Media Centre – $300.

In the case of entertainment events, the user fee’s minimum charge is $5,000, with a caution fee of $2,500.

“Fees quoted are minimum. The council reserves the right to adjust such fees as the occasion warrants,” a footnote on the tariff indicated.

May stated that the non payment of user fees has put the NSC in a position where it is unable to sustain itself.

The NSC manager noted that since taking up the post last September, his approach has been first “to maintain then begin to enhance the facilities which are under the care of the council.”

He holds the view that one cannot depend solely on government to carry sports in St Vincent and the Grenadines, but that other stakeholders must play their part.

May said the fees charged by the council are, in most cases, lower than in neighbouring islands, such as St Lucia and Grenada.(RT)