The National Association of Athletics Administration (NAAA) should be more "in the loop" when the Ministry of Sport makes decisions affecting track and field, says president Ephraim Serrette.
Serrette was replying to criticisms by Minister of Sport Anil Roberts yesterday at a press conference at the Ministry's Abercromby Street, Port of Spain headquarters.
Serrette raised concerns in a letter to the acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport Ashwin Creed, about the Ministry's lack of adherence to the policy for awarding elite funding to track and field athletes.
The NAAA boss was also critical of the Ministry for "reduced budgets" during the NAAA awards function on Sunday.
Roberts called for Serrette to prove his claims, or apologise publicly within seven days. But the former T&T sprinter outlined his concerns over elite athlete selection.
Said Serrette: "I want people to see what the criteria with the funding is. It has to do with medalling regionally and internationally. (The NAAA) need to be in the loop so that other people we see more deserving like Moriba Morain, the Walcott brothers (can be selected). Why they can't receive funding?"
He also defended his statements about budget cuts.
"All I stated is that they talk about cutting funding. I (said) if we in Trinidad and Tobago (are) serious about addressing crime, the money that we spend on funding (should be increased). I was talking about not just sport but culture too. Nothing is political about that (statement)."
Roberts also claimed that the NAAA had not yet supplied some of the information required, making it impossible for the Ministry to approve their funding requests. Serrette denied this.
"We give them an audited statement," Serrette said. "What more they want? We gave them audited statements, managers' reports, operative budgets with strategies in Power Point and a written version.
"Our strategic plan goes on quadrennials. This is the last and then we do an operational for the (next Olympic cycle). They have all of that."
Serrette also revealed that the NAAA will meet on Sunday to fully discuss the matter before responding any further.
By -Kern De Freitas
Source: www.trinidadexpress.com