SVG Table Tennis Association holds AGM

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Table Tennis Association holds its Annual General Meeting tomorrow at the CW Prescod Primary School starting at 1 pm.

But it will be the most eminent meeting staged by that association for a long time. Tomorrow’s meeting’s main focus will be the election of a new executive to carry out the affairs of the association.{{more}}

Under the microscope and in the public domain for the better part of the last twelve months, the association’s executive has had its affairs known to all and sundry through exposure via the media.

At the centre of the row were President Sean Stanley and Honourary Secretary Julian Sutherland.

The feud saw the intervention of the National Olympic Committee, but to no avail.

While Saturday’s meeting is scheduled go along as planned, Sutherland told SEARCHLIGHT last Sunday that he was never notified of the Annual General Meeting, and learned of it when he telephoned First Vice President Khalique Bailey last week.

Sutherland though expressed his desire to continue serving table tennis, as for him, “Anything I can do to see table tennis run properly, I will”.

Willing to serve in any capacity except that of the presidency, Sutherland said,” I will work with anyone, once things are done transparently and above board”.

He further stated that he was even willing to work with Stanley, “once things are done correctly”.

When SEARCHLIGHT contacted Stanley last Monday, he was terse in response when questioned if he were seeking re-election to the top post.

“I rather not say, but I am willing to work along with anyone”, he admitted.

Instead Stanley pointed to the strides table tennis has made under his headship.

“Under my leadership, there are more persons playing the sport; there are more tournaments being held in the history of table tennis in this country; we have distributed table tennis boards to schools and communities; it was the first time that young players were able to get table tennis scholarships”, Stanley boasted.

He also pointed to the acquisition of the Old Government Printery in Kingstown as a temporary home for table tennis as favourable on the remarks column of his mark sheet.

Stanley, in addition itemised the return of a former player Kendall Charles after over twenty years of inactivity as another plus for his leadership.

But what stood out most for Stanley was the Primary Schools Programme initiated following a six month coaches’ course conducted by Ahmed Dawlatly.

An effort was made last January to unseat Stanley by some disgruntled members of the association, but did not get the anticipated support.

Elected in April 2006, the out going executive also included Treasurer Joseph Carrington and committee members Kamal Hunte and Unica Velox.The lone female elected, Velox migrated to North America. She was part of this country’s table tennis squad to the Central American and Caribbean Senior Games in Colombia in July last year.