Lyn to step aside as ASAJ president
Published:Saturday | November 18, 2023 | 12:09 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
After 12 years at the helm of Jamaica’s aquatic sports, Martin Lyn will not be seeking re-election when the Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) holds elections on December 5.
Lyn, who had a fairly successful reign in his tenure as president, said even though several clubs and officials wanted him to continue there comes a time when one must realise it is time to step aside.
“When you have been there and done that and you have built up the federation, which has been 16 years of my life and I have done a lot and my accomplishments with the ASAJ are numerous.
“I have called the elections for ASAJ. December 5 will be the election date and I have also decided not to run for president,” Lyn told The Gleaner.
He pointed out that when he took over in 2011, the organisation was broke, doing few swim meets a year and had very few swimmers going away to international competitions.
However, Lyn said he has significantly turned the association around financially and otherwise.
“Financially, the ASAJ is in the best position it has ever been. We have increased the number of meets annually, and the meets are more watched than previously.
“We have put things in place to ensure that (financial) leakage has been mitigated and we have ensured that more sponsors have come on,” he said. “In addition to that, the infrastructure has improved. I have built offices, have gotten pumps, starting blocks, lane lines and many more.”
He also pointed to an increase in swimming scholarships and participation in international and regional meets.
“We have sent away the most athletes in the last few years, including Kito Campbell on a World Aquatics scholarship.
“It is the first time we have sent away six different teams to regional and international events in one year. We also have five officials recognised by World Aquatics, and for the first time we have officials recognised throughout the Pan American region. So they will be called to do Pan Am officiating,” he further disclosed.
However, there are some things to be completed such as changes to the constitution. Nevertheless, he will still be in the background working to ensure that the association continue its upward trajectory.
“I would have liked to have guided several changes in the ASAJ constitution because it has several loopholes that people can use to their advantage,” he said.
He added also that he has built up positive relationships with local bodies like the Ministry of Sport, Jamaica Olympic Association and Independence Park Limited during his tenure and hopes the new administration nurtures and improves these relationships.
“The new president needs to nurture them as well, as well as with various regional and international swimming bodies. These are relationships the new person needs to build on.
“But I will be the immediate past president and I will not just leave my little baby like that. I have grown it to where it is now and will be one of the advocates in the background that will be there to ensure that things are done the way they should be done, because we have definitely built up something positive.”
Meanwhile, vice president in charge of water polo, Lance Rochester, and vice president in charge of swimming, Georgia Sinclair, are the two candidates who will seek the top post.
Only one other position, that of secretary, will be up for grabs. This will be contested by incumbent Shauna Jackson and Florence Grizzle-Williams.
Robyn-Ann Chin-Sang will run unopposed for vice president in charge of artistic swimming, while Marlon McIntyre is the lone candidate for the vice presidency for water polo and Hilary Brown-Nixon for the vice president in charge of swimming.