Caribbean badminton in trouble

While over 190 overseas participants from 20 countries are expected to participate in the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) Championships at the Jean Pierre Complex from tomorrow, hosts Trinidad and Tobago face huge embarrassment because of inadequate facilities at the main venue.

This as  the Local Organising Committee and officials of the Trinidad and Tobago Badminton Association are working tirelessly to raise funds and put everything in place for what promises to be the biggest and most exciting badminton tournament ever in the Caribbean. However  promises made by the management o of the Jean Pierre Complex, headed by Jim Anatol, have not been fulfilled according to badminton officials. And because of the lapses, TT’s international image could be tarnished they say.. Ronald Clarke (TTBA president) indicated that the bleachers on the eastern side of the Complex are leaking and there is seepage directly into the changing room. In addition, there are no seats for the toilets in the changing rooms and washrooms. He said it was a sad state of affairs at this venue, which is the leading indoor facility in the country.

Clarke and his officials are still hoping that the situation can be rectified before the start of the CAREBACO team competition tomorrow at 9 am. Clarke feels that the situation needs the intervention of the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Roger Boynes to save the country’s reputation. World stars from 20 countries including Japan, Canada, United States of America, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Iceland, Iran, Portugal, Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Barbados and Suriname will be here to battle for supremacy in the International Badminton (IBF) Grade I tournament. TT senior and junior teams have been training assiduously for the past six months under the guidance of coaches Daren Dasent (seniors) and David Lee Kim (juniors) as they aim  to win the regional title which have eluded them over the years.

National triple-crowned champion Anil Seepaul is currently in Santo Domingo where he competed in their International series. Seepaul is expected to arrive back in time for the CAREBACO Championships. His trip was sponsored by the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) with a view of having the country’s leading sports personalities get maximum exposure in readiness for the Pan-American Games which will be held in Santo Domingo next month. This will also help the national champion to lead the charge for top honours.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico has withdrawn from the series. Clarke was informed on this new development on Tuesday night and Jamaica’s senior team is in doubt. CAREBACO president Joseph Clarke, who is a certified Pan-American umpire, arrived on Tuesday night and is currently overseeing the fixture for the biennial showdown. Clarke is also a council member of IBF. He hails from Jamaica and gave up the presidency of the JBA to concentrate his efforts in promoting and upgrading the game in the region. He and his executive are now confronted with this embarrassing dilemma.  The TTBA officials are appealling for urgent and prompt action.