ASAJ boss will move to ease burden on parents
Published:Monday | December 18, 2023 | 12:09 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
New Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) president, Lance Rochester, has promised to look at ways to try and ease the financial burden on parents who have often been called on to contribute heavily to their children’s expenses when on national duties.
The long-standing issue has led to a number of public altercations between parents and previous administrations.
Rochester, who came through the ranks from a junior national representative to an administrator, has seen the negative impact of these costs on their relationship with parents, and he will be examining ways to have this matter addressed.
“This is a long-standing issue. I grew up in swimming on the national programme, and I cannot count how much my parents would have paid over the years. I wouldn’t be able to pay them back, so I get it from that perspective,” he pointed out.
He reasoned that key is generating the kind of funding required to support the national teams on their international ventures.
“It is how we make yourself more appealing around corporate Jamaica and how we go about organising ourself around raising funds early for tournaments down the line and how to do more to generate your own revenue.
“I haven’t yet met with the parents as a group as yet, but it is something we will be looking to do on an ongoing basis,” he stated.
Rochester, who recently replaced long-time president Martin Lyn, said he hopes that at the end of his first two-year term there will be tangible evidence of his impact in office.
“Some of the plans are long term, some very bold, but at the end of the two years, what we are aiming for is to have a framework in place.
“At the end of the second year, we should be seeing some all-island activity on a greater level than what exists now.
“You will see more visibility and support towards all the disciplines, and you should see a culture change in the ASAJ, where people are more excited about the investment being made in the athletes and more excited to come in and assist the association,” he said.