Gymnastics strengthens exec to advance sport
Published:Wednesday | September 1, 2021 | 12:08 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Nicole Grant-Brown, who was re-elected unopposed as president of the Jamaica Amateur Gymnastics Association (JAGA) on Sunday, said the organisation has added five new board members, persons well experienced in their field of expertise, and who she strongly believes can help the association to make that next step.
She said that they accomplished a lot during the last term and feel honoured to have the continued confidence of its members. However, she believes the new additions to the board will make the association more active and effective in executing its programmes and objectives.
“It is an honour to once again win the confidence of the members of the Jamaica Amateur Gymnastics Association to have me as their president for another four years,” said Grant-Brown.
“We have a few new injections to the board, persons who are experienced in the field that they are elected to serve in, and we hope that with these new personnel we can have a more vibrant board that can move gymnastics farther to the goals that we want to achieve,” she noted.
Additions to the JAGA executive include vice-president for international relations, US-based Shenice Martin; Mlela Matandara-Clarke, UTech lecturer and architect, who will be the director of officials’ development and parent relations; Brian Mighty, pastor and businessman, director of fundraising and maintenance; Khaldia Russell, a financial controller, who is now honorary treasurer; and assistant secretary, Marvette Facey-Dobbs.
The returning members include Deborah Bennett, vice-president of marketing and public relations; Nadeen Whyte, vice-president of national development; Clover Gardner, honorary secretary; Paula White, assistant treasurer; Kerieon Grant, director of club affairs; and Natanja Morris, director of gymnastics programmes outside Kingston.
Under Grant-Brown’s administration, Jamaica qualified its first gymnasts to the Olympic Games with Tony Ann Williams in 2016, and then Danusia Francis in the Tokyo 2020 Games.
“Shenice Martin currently resides in the United States. She was previously director of club affairs and has been doing some tremendous work in the United States to help build the sports locally,” Grant-Brown explained. “Mlela Matandara-Clarke, director for officials’ development and parents relations, has worked in the field of sports development in New Zealand for many years.”
She noted also that Mighty has been with the association for many years, but will for the first time function in this capacity. Russell, who has worked in the field of accounts for many years, will be responsible for balancing the books, while assistant secretary, Facey-Dobbs, who has years of experience working with children in social work, administration and as a child psychologist, will help the youngsters with mental preparation.
“These are the new additions and we are pleased that we have this new set of experts who can move the association and the sport of gymnastics forward,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Grant-Brown said athlete and infrastructure development remain a priority on the association’s to-do list, as well as improving parent relations and administration.
“We seek to continue the development of our athletes, with special focus on their holistic development and improving our infrastructure, not only in Kingston but other parishes,” she said.
“We are going to be focusing on strengthening our parents and club relations. But more importantly, strengthen the administrative division, focusing on the education of our members. We will also be putting in a lot more effort in fundraising and partner relations to maintain our programmes, especially our youth Olympic programmes,” she said.