Amateur Athletics Association president refutes allegations

Ian Gray

On Monday, the managing committee of the Belize Amateur Athletics Association issued a stern release criticizing the presidency of Ian Gray as head of the organization.  The committee charges that Gray has usurped its responsibility which they claim now allows him to function as a one man executive.   Allegations of misconduct have also been made against Gray by BAAA’s first vice president Deon Sutherland who has stated that a special meeting will be held by mid-October to denounce Gray’s presidency.  Gray spoke with News Five refuting the allegations and saying that his actions were the result of the committee falling short of its duties.

Ian Gray, President, BAAA

“About a year ago we took office, September first, and we designed a program where we broke up our organization into five groups. We had groups of two executive members who were encouraged to go out and solicit services of other people in order to enable the association to grow. It’s virtually impossible for nine people to run an association when we all work forty hours a week. So we designed a system where we allowed people to go out and bring in volunteer assistants. From the onset there were problems with that so I came back and designed programs, charts in order to assist the members in a way to go about things. Things got progressively worse and people stopped doing their duty and those who didn’t stop just drastically reduced their workload. As a result I had to pick up the slack as the president and that is something that the president must do—you must go out solicit funds, solicit awards, do all that is required to have the association run. So that’s what has been the case. I sent out numerous emails in an effort to spur them on, to keep them going and in the event that they do not rise to the occasion then I must do because we are a subsidiary of the International Amateur Athletics Association.”

Isani Cayetano

“Now Mr. Gray one of the allegations that was made against you is the fact that you went ahead and assembled the national team to represent Belize in the Pan American Games for this year without first consulting or conferring with the management committee. Can you speak to us on that?”

Ian Gray

“Yes. As I previously said, many deadlines were missed prior to this one and as a result and as the president and based on what was told to me by our head office that they needed the submissions well in advance. So given the fact that we did not participate in the World Junior Championships in France, given the fact that we were barely making deadlines and being unable to fill the teams, given my years of experience, I consulted with Coaches Evans, Coach Collin Thurton and Coach Morris on the selection—it was not done in isolation. As far as my committee goes, after that selection was made, I sent it out. So they were pretty much made privy to the information that was chosen. Also one selection criteria was the results that we had from the Central American Championships which were held in Costa Rica late June. So it wasn’t an isolation; coaches are consulted on, what was the projected time that kids would expected to run come October. Also there is a chart that you can consult and they prorate athlete’s performance. So not in every instance you need to have a person compete. A time trial would suffice. So I would say to my executives, kindly come back out to training as we have asked you to do in the past. I’ve asked them repeated stop by these meets so that the parents can be familiar with you, the athletes, the coaches, the guardians, so everyone know who you are. And you are familiar with the kids, their performance, the events and so on. But they have failed to do so with the exception of one or two executive members—they usually don’t come to the practice pitch. So had they been doing that, they would know that the selection was a sound one.”

Isani Cayetano

“A meeting has been scheduled for no longer than October fifteen to denounce your presidency. What are your plans in terms of either putting forward an argument as to why you should remain as the president of the Belize Amateur Athletics Association?”

Ian Gray

“Sir, the people chose us, therefore, it would be the people’s decision. If the case is put and the people decide Gray’s no longer worthy of representing then so it be. But I will not step down based on the assertion from the athletes, their parents, the schools and others—I’m doing fair. Can I do better? Yes I can. I am open to criticism and I would say to my committee or executive members; I’m open. Everyone has my phone number, everyone has my contacts—I’m pretty much open for discussion.”

According to Vice President Deon Sutherland the letter that the committee of management has issued is in line with the protocols and constitution of the Belize Amateur Athletics Association.  The meeting, he said, will aim to resolve other issues within the organization.