Netball Jamaica hamstrung by slow investigations
Hopes to replace one of two stolen buses early in the new year
Published:Friday | December 24, 2021 | 12:11 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
PRESIDENT OF Netball Jamaica (NJ) Tricia Robinson says her organisation is now anxiously awaiting a cash settlement from an insurance company to replace one of the two buses stolen in August
The vehicles were reportedly stripped of their decals before being stolen early on August 15 from Netball House, the national teams’ base in Hope Pastures, St Andrew. One of the buses had been donated by the Jamaica Public Service, and the other by FLOW. Both were comprehensively insured.
According to Robinson, one of the insurance companies has completed its investigations and therefore, her organisation is awaiting a cash settlement, which will be used to purchase another bus.
“We have submitted our documentations so that there can be a payout on one of the buses,” said Robinson.
“We are awaiting word on the settlement from the other insurance company on the second bus,” she said.
The NJ boss also said she has been in constant dialogue with the Matilda’s Corner police, who have been conducting the investigations, but they are yet to make a breakthrough in the case.
BUSY YEAR AHEAD
Robinson wants the situation to be sorted out as quickly as possible because 2022, she believes, will be a busy year for netball in Jamaica.
“The buses were stolen in August and now it is December, and so I think that is a reasonable time for them to do their investigations and to give a payout,” Robinson said.
“We certainly would like to hear from our second insurer in terms of what is happening, because we haven’t heard from them,” she said. “Next year is a big one, and it is a packed year for netball, so, yes, we need to settle these things as it relates to the buses,” Robinson stated.
“We have the Commonwealth Games coming, and we have the Americas Championships out here and the preparations for the Netball World Cup, and so we will need transportation for the players on a daily basis.”
Meanwhile, Robinson, along with members of the Sunshine Girls, yesterday made a courtesy call to Stewart’s Automotive’s head office on South Camp Road in Kingston.
Stewart’s has been providing transportation for the various national teams since the buses were stolen in August.
To show their appreciation, members of the Sunshine Girls team presented a signed plaque to Duncan Stewart, general manager of Stewart’s.