TT moves forward with Lue
Published:Sunday | February 7, 2021 | 12:20 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
Maxeline Knuckle, president of the Emancipation Park Table Tennis Club, a Godfrey Lothian supporter, says she is curious to hear the plans of the new Jamaica Table Tennis Association’s (JTTA) administration.
Knuckle also argues that Lothian’s administration was fair and equal in their distribution of resources to all members during their seven years’ reign and that she hopes Andrew Lue’s team continues that trend, as well as builds on the legacy left behind.
“We haven’t heard anything pertaining to what the intentions are for the development of the sport. He (Lue) only talks about transparency, and transparency is what we have had, because there is nothing to hide,” Knuckle told The Gleaner.
“So I am listening to hear him say these are the things that we will do to lift the standard of table tennis,” she commented.
With the two-year feud for the control of the organisation now behind them, Knuckle expects the new leadership to reach out and try to bridge the divide created by the long- running conflict.
“I hope we can have closure to all that is going on. My concern with this new administration is, will they be fair across the board in respect to everything they do? Currently, we are not unified in respect to the clubs. When Mr Lothian was distributing things or selecting coaches for courses, he didn’t segregate who should get and who should not.
FAIR DELIVERY
“There was always a fair delivery of all the services available in table tennis, and we hope they (new administration) continue along that path. But I speak for myself and other clubs, we are willing to work with them,” she reasoned.
However, she said pro-Lothian clubs were disappointed they were not even invited to view yesterday’s annual general meeting (AGM).
“They said they sent an email to me but, to this day, I have not seen an email. I don’t know of any other club that supports Mr Lothian that received any invitation to attend their AGM,” she pointed.
Nevertheless, she believes the new administration has a solid platform on which to take the sport forward.
“Mr Lothian has taken table tennis from nothing when he took office to where it is today. We just hope they have the same zest the former administration had, because they worked really hard and sacrificed their time to get it where it is. So we just hope they continue to build on it,” she commented.
Meanwhile, Ron Lawrence, a Lue supporter and president of the Trelawny Table Tennis Association, hopes there are no issues with the handover of the association’s assets.
Most important, he wants the new administration to revise the referees and umpires association and give more recognition to rural clubs.
“We need to locate and identify assets from the Lothian administration. If we are to start national training, we need to know that,” he said. “Secondly, we want more inclusion of rural clubs. Having subscribed to the new administration, we want to know that, and I speak for everybody outside of Kingston and St Andrew, there is a process and we will be given the opportunity to be seen and recognised for our contribution to the development of the sport.”
At yesterday’s AGM at the National Arena, Lue was voted in unopposed as president. Wayne Tai and Danville Walker, took the first and second vice-president posts, respectively, Collette Palmer was elected treasurer, and Karen Sinclair-Lym was elected as the general secretary.