innis.francis @guardain.co.tt
President of the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT) Wendell Lai Hing failed to secure another term in office as president of the sport after he lost to Lindsay Gillette at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) which took place at the National Aquatic Centre, Couva on Friday evening.
A total of 24 clubs were present and choose a former president and Gillette by four votes to lead the organisation until 2020.
In his victory speech, Gillette said his biggest concern is the way the outside world looks at T&T, and the time was now that ASATT members to be held accountable for their spending.
Gillette said, “The most critical thing is the way ASATT is perceived outside and we need to address it; if we have to pay, then how are we going to pay! Plain and simple. We can’t pay what we don’t have but at least we can tell the people outside how we are going to address that.”
Gillette, a former Petrotrin chairman asked that the outgoing executive give an account of any existing debts.
Gillette asked that it be put in writing so ASATT can move forward with plans he would have prepared prior to his success as the new president.
“There are two things I would like if possible; one is for the outgoing committee to work with the new committee and state how much money we owe. If we owe at all; how much we need to receive and if there are any contractual obligations. What our debts are and what obligation we have made. If you can give it to us in writing,” Gillette said.
He said next year for Carifta and CCCAN he would like to see Trinidad and Tobago’s team prove successful at the sport. He urged the three water polo clubs to get together to have a strong team at next year’s competition in Barbados.
He said ASATT is the overseer to swimming, water polo, synchronised swimming, and he was ready to make an application for diving and continue to focus on water programmes.
He said, “I have been assured by FINA of certified courses in Trinidad and Tobago and to bring people into Trinidad and Tobago to do open water swim meets.”
Gillette said his passion is with young people and there were a lot of young people coming out of the sport of swimming; particularly coaches and it's time that the older heads “step aside” to make way for the young people.
Meanwhile, Lai Hing in an attempt to satisfy the membership to consider and if approved, adopt and audited financial statement for 2012 – 2015 said he was trying not to be “antagonistic,” but the procedure was not done due to the lack of a quorum and that he inherited the problem he was trying to fix.
At the 2016 AGM under the leadership of Joseph McLeod, the newly elected first vice president, the presentation of the audited accounts had to be deferred after it was said the auditor fell ill. It was decided that the accounts would be addressed at a special general meeting at a date and time to be determined.
During last AGM, at the Cascadia Hotel, St Ann's, Lai Hing defeated Joseph Mc Leod 25-21 for the position of president.
Lai Hing's Movement for Aquatic Success (MAS) slate in fact completed a clean sweep of the positions up for grabs, as former national swimmer Franz Huggins claimed a 26-21 victory over Gregory Mitchell for the first vice president; Chantal Ross-Thomas gaining a similar 26-21 triumph over Gordon Borde for second vice president; Andrea Branche defeated Nicole Coombs in the race for secretary 26-21 and Indardeo Maharaj got the better of Denise Kamal 27-19 for the post of treasurer in what was one of the best clubs turnouts for such a meeting.
Anthony Edwards and Jason Wickham of MAS were elected unopposed to the positions of assistant secretary/treasurer and public relations officer respectively, after Francis Sampson and David Sobrian declined.
ASATT’s new executive members also included Joseph McLeod (First vice president), Shirla Lamorell-Lyons (Second vice president), Gregory Mitchell (General Secretary), Natasha Jagdeo (Treasurer), Raymond Garcia (Assistant Secretary/Treasurer) and Gresha Gonzales (Public Relations Officer).
VOTING RESULTS
(Each club had two votes)
President
Lindsay Gillette - 26 votes vs Wendelle Lai Hing - 22 votes
First Vice President
Joseph Mc Leod - 28 votes vs Chabeth Haynes - 20 votes
Second Vice President
Shirla Lamorell-Lyons 25 votes vs Gordon Boarde - 22 votes (One spoil ballot)
Secretary
Gregory Mitchel - 25 votes vs Andrea Brache - 21 votes (Two spoil ballots)
Treasurer
Natasha Jagdeo - 27 votes vs Stephen Mendoza - 19 votes (Two spoil ballots)
Assistant secretary/treasurer
Raymond Garcia - 24 votes vs Johnann Lovell - 21 votes (Three spoil ballots)
Public Relations Officer
Gresha Gonzales - 24 vs Danielle Fernandez-Cozier - 22 votes (Two spoil ballots)