Doldron roasted at athletics meeting

KEN DOLDRON, president of the National Amateur Athletics Association (NAAA) was roasted at a General Council meeting of the organisation on Saturday at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mount Hope. The former sargeant-major in the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force was peppered with probing questions by club representatives at a very lively meeting of the NAAA. Most of the questions pertained to the organisation’s financial transactions and the failure of the executive to circulate records of meetings as mandated by the NAAA constitution.

One club representative who did not want to be named asked Doldron why the financial report of the Carifta Games hosted in Trinidad and Tobago two years ago was not circulated among the General Council members. “Imagine we are volunteering to host another Carifta Games this year yet we have no financial report of the last one staged here in 2002. How are we going to approach Government for help without the financial report,” the NAAA member asked. The NAAA president promised that the reports will be presented soon. On the question as to why there were no timely reports of the executive meetings, Doldron reportedly said that the secretary of the organisation had resigned which caused the problem.

Another club representative, an attorney-at-law asked the NAAA head about the contract that the organisation had signed with adidas, the German-based sports goods manufacturer but no details were forthcoming. “I think he did not want to divulge details of the contract for fear it may end up in the press. But we have the right to that information as members of the General Council,” the attorney said. Doldron told the meeting that the details of the contract were with the NAAA lawyers but several representatives claimed it was the first time they were hearing of the yet unnamed legal men. A query was also raised about a constitution amendment which raised the membership fees for athletes and ordinary members from $10 to $30 and $25 to $100 respectively. According to the constitution the motion must be passed by two-thirds majority but this is yet to be confirmed by the executive of the association. It was pointed out that if the amendment was not passed in accordance with the constitution the athletes and members who have paid the new fees may have to be refunded since the new change would be null and void.

When contacted yesterday, newly appointed secretary of the NAAA Allan Baboolal said that the meeting went off well with representatives of 25 clubs attending in addition to ten executive members and three life members. He said that the annual general meeting of the track and field body will be staged on November 20 at a venue to be announced shortly but which will be more than likely the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. He also said that the annual awards function of the NAAA will be on November 14 at the Crowne Plaza, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain with George Commissiong heading the Awards Organising Committee. And of the grilling Doldron received from disgruntled club representatives, Baboolal said it was the right of the members to ask questions. “This is their forum and the executive must work closely with the General Council to get the business of the organisation done,” said Baboolal.