‘No breach!’ - Liguanea Club clears air on postponement of JN Invitational Exhibition tennis tournament
Published:Saturday | December 19, 2020 | 12:14 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Liguanea Club General Manager Gareth Walker says the decision to suspend the Jamaica National Invitational Exhibition was made by the club and not enforced by the Government.
The tournament was put on hold on Tuesday while clearance was sought for three players who travelled into the island, leading to reports that the decision was made by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) in light of its COVID-19 protocols. None of the players in question have so far played. But Walker says that the tournament was not halted because of any protocol breach, and Liguanea Club was told in its correspondence with MOHW that whether a player competes in the tournament is the club’s decision.
“We haven’t received any instruction from the ministry saying we have breached protocol,” Walker said. “On the Tuesday, I asked their opinion on the matter and they stated that anyone coming from overseas, resident or overseas visitor, has to quarantine for 14 days, but that we could make the call to do otherwise.
“I received something from the ministry in respect to a player that has been exempt from quarantine but I need more information than that. I need the ministry to be very clear, if he is permitted to play in the tournament.
“We were made aware of some possible issues with some players as to their eligibility because of the possible need to quarantine because they had been overseas. We were also made aware by the players that they were getting the necessary permission from the ministry for an exemption to play under the special dispensation, but that information has not been forthcoming.”
This special dispensation regards possessing clearance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.
GROUNDS TO COMPETE
“We spoke on the matter and coming out of that we felt it necessary to postpone the tournament as we haven’t seen anything to make us feel comfortable in permitting them to play,” Walker said. “So we took it up on ourselves on Tuesday at 2 p.m. to postpone the tournament, pending we receive all information that permits us to permit them to play, and if there is no evidence of that, we will not allow them to play.”
Walker says that Liguanea Club is hoping to get a response by this weekend and, if the players were not cleared, they would be replaced for play to start on Monday. It is understood, however, that the club expects the players to be cleared in time for their slot on the schedule, as it is believed that their conditions were favourable.
The tournament was scheduled without the approval from Tennis Jamaica as organiser Llockett McGregor told The Gleaner that such was not necessary because the tournament is a small private event.
“This is just a small invitational with eight players,” he said. “They weren’t seeking ranking or points. It was just supposed to be for a few members and a few tennis players to come out and have a good time.”