BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Mar.15.2018 - THREE years after hosting the region’s biggest junior athletics meet – the CARIFTA Games - the St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Athletics Association is highly in debt from that event.
The event left the association with well over EC$1 million debt and over the years they have been able to cut that debt down to $400,000 – but they are still struggling to clear that figure off.
At a press conference on Tuesday (Mar. 13), the newly elected President of the SKNAAA, Val Henry disclosed that though they are an association that is well over three decades old, they are fledgling.
According to the president, when they took office they met a number of challenges,
some of which they are still faced with to date.
He said that the greatest challenge that they have currently is that they are “dead broke”.
“We met US$35 on one account in Scotia Bank, and $2100 on our National Bank account, with bills to be paid of over $8000,” disclosed the president.
Additionally, it was disclosed that they inherited a debt of over $500,000, which was once pegged at $800,000.
The president explained that it was through the support of the Minister of Sport and the government that it was reduced to the $500,000.
“It was worse than that! We also had to receive debt forgiveness of over $345,000 three months ago for monies that we owe…this expense is coming from the events that we put on, athletes that we send overseas for different international competitions, and very little of it in the form of operations from the local front. And a lot of it came from the hosting of the CARIFTA Games 2015.”
SKNVibes understands that several of the service providers may not have been paid for the event.
Further, it was revealed that the debt has jeopardized the participation of an athletics team at the Rio Games.
But the participation was made possible through the support of the Government.
Henry explained that the government over the last several years, has contributed well over $1million to assist in athletes development and preparation
“Though the international committee, through our local NOC, would provide for our athletes…our athletes would have to prepare, and it cost a lot of money,” Henry noted.
He was adamant that, like the other sports associations, the SKNAAA is struggling.
Currently, the association is faced with a challenge in the area of replacing equipment that is old and breaking.
Henry confirmed that the association will have to treat all events with business sense.
