New Senator calls for closure in SVGTTA matter

Minister of State in the Ministry of National Mobilisation etc., with specific responsibility for youth and sports, Senator Cecil “Ces” Mc Kie, wants the prolonged impasse between the Sean Stanley Table Tennis Academy and the Executive of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Table Tennis Association to end.{{more}}

Mc Kie let this known at the closing of the inaugural Scotia Bank Business Houses Tournament which ended last week Thursday evening at the Kingstown Anglican School Annex.

“This impasse has gone on too long,” Mc Kie opined.

“I don’t think it is a difficult hurdle to get over,” the recently appointed government senator said.

Offering to act as the mediator in the reconciliation process, Mc Kie said that a partnership of the two will only drive the sport upward.

Stanley, a former President of the SVGTTA, tendered his resignation December 31, 2007, seven months after being duly elected, citing the need to re-organise his personal life, because “there is life after sports.”

Stanley had previously served as Interim Chairman of the association, after the Mark Charles led executive crumbled in 2004. Stanley was elected President in 2006.

His departure from the helm of the association then led to the formation of the Sean Stanley Table Tennis Academy in 2008.

Since then, the academy has been the hub of activity for the sport, with the staging of several competitions, including the first ever Inter-church tournament, a media house competition, a Home coming championship, among other in house Table Tennis tournaments, mainly providing avenues for new talent and recalling persons to the sport.

Stanley, who preceded Mc Kie in giving remarks at the closing ceremony, had indicated that there are forces working against his Table Tennis set up.

Cognisant that both warring parties need to co-exist, Stanley, a certified coach, last year extended the olive branch to the Alanzo Primus led SVGTTA Executive, offering his services as their Technical Director.

One positive sign, though, was the involvement of Elliot Charles during the competition. Charles, the former Assistant Secretary, was part of the Stanley led Executive, but resigned from the Executive last year.

One of Stanley’s critics, Charles played a key role in the just concluded competition as an umpire, indicating a mending of the fences. (RT)