Time for TT to recognise Stephen Ames

THE EDITOR: Over the past four years I have travelled to eight PGA tour events to support the Caribbean’s sole member of the PGA tour, Stephen Ames. From time to time, family members and a few other travelling and transplanted Trinis come out to support Stephen, but generally he is on his own. He receives no support or sponsorship from TT, even after his well publicised achievements at the highest level of the game. Stephen has led PGA tour events a number of times and almost won the prestigious Players Championship (unofficial 5th Major) last year. On these occasions the major networks’ attention focused on Stephen providing TT with much free publicity. This could be parlayed into valuable golf tourism for our twin island state, with the right plan supporting the venture. However, everything has to start with Stephen Ames being recognised and valued for his significant achievements at the highest level of the world’s most difficult and fastest growing sport. I would start by offering Stephen a diplomatic passport and appointing him a roving ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago. He should also be offered free hotel accommodation in Trinidad and Tobago for up to two weeks annually.

In this regard, there was a recent debate by letter writers as to whether Stephen Ames represents Trinidad or Canada when he tees it up on the PGA tour. I think both of them are right. Normally, in regular PGA tour events his significant Canadian sponsors insist that he be listed as Calgary, Alberta. Do you blame them, (and him) as real money is involved here. However, if you look at his listing in a major tournament, such as the PGA Championship (this week) he is listed as Trinidad and Tobago. I would like anyone reading this to realise that in Stephen Ames, TT has one of its few world class performers in the full glare of the American media, on a weekly basis. Yet officially, he is completely ignored by the Government and TIDCO. That says much more about those two organisations than it does about Stephen. A final word here, Stephen Ames has been residing in Canada for 12 years and it is likely that he will shortly be offered citizenship of that country. Let us more swiftly to recognise, reward and market Stephen Ames, in the land of his birth and young life, before we lose him to the frozen north.
Apart from being smart, it is the fair and right thing to do.

GREGORY WIGHT
Diego Martin