ISSA plans new committees after AGM - Small returned as president; Forbes slams old boys' associations

Returning Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) President Dr Walton Small has said that as part of his mandate for his sixth successive term, he will ensure that three new panels be created to streamline the functions of the organisation.

Small said this was because the body had realised that it could take more measures to allow it to meet the demands of stakeholders.

"To make it (ISSA) a more efficient and more effective organisation, we're going to look at introducing a policy committee, an execution board, and operations panel," Small said. "Why it's extremely important is that the demand is on us right now as it relates to providing for the demands from the sponsors. We have to put things in place to ensure that our policy does not go against the wishes, the execution and also the operation."

Small was re-elected ahead of Keith Wellington after a 52-50 result in the polls at yesterday's annual general meeting (AGM). Wellington will now return as association vice-president.

Extremely happy

"I'm extremely happy that the members have the confidence in me that I can continue to lead the organisation," Small said.

Albert Corcho returns unopposed as treasurer, while also unopposed were Colleen Montague as ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championship chairman;basketball chairman Linvern Wright; and table tennis chairman Richard Thompson.

Dr O'Neil Ankle was elected Manning Cup chairman, while Linvern Wright will be his dacosta Cup counterpart. Erica Eubanks and Jennifer Williams were also elected chairpersons of netball and hockey, respectively.

Meanwhile, ISSA Competitions Director George Forbes said that there is no issue inside the association regarding the welfare of student athletes. This was in response to complaints from a number of schools' old boys' associations in a letter recently addressed to the minister of education.

"That's not even a discussion," Forbes said. "It's an association of principals, you know (regarding ISSA). The principals are satisfied with what they are getting. We don't answer to the old boys. If the old boys want anything, they go through the principal. the principal will get it and will send it in."

Forbes said that the issue of term limits for executive members was not discussed at the AGM, but will be put forward in another meeting to be held in September.

Transparency concerns

Another issue raised by the old boys' associations was that of transparency regarding ISSA's financial reports. Forbes said that the old boys' associations instead, should be more open about their spending, not ISSA.

"They (the old boys' associations) need to disclose their books. Our books are open to scrutiny. We don't know how much they spend. That is why we have the problem where only a couple schools are winning Champs or winning football. Who has the most money is who is winning. They need to stop massaging their egos to say 'my school is winning'. What about the development of the children?" Forbes asked.