Boxers abscond in US

Oct 19, 2010 News, Sports

– bolt, leaving Guyanese passports behind

– Ninvalle expresses hurt, breach of trust by boxers’ actions

By Michael Benjamin

Grandiose plans by the executive of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) to nurture the three boxers that recently participated in the Commonwealth Games in India, for participation at the 2012 Olympics in England, was forcefully and shamefully aborted following the disappearance of all three principals at the John F Kennedy International Airport New York last Saturday morning.
The boxers, Dexter Jordon, Clevon Rock and Devon Boatswain, were returning from participation in the Commonwealth Games in India and were on the stopover leg of their trip at the American port of entry when they ostentatiously made their move.
President of the GABA, Steve Ninvalle who formed a part of the boxing delegation that attended the Games hastily convened a press conference to brief media operatives of details surrounding the boxers’ disappearance.
An obviously hurt Ninvalle said that the team of Guyanese representatives from several sports disciplines arrived at the JFK Airport on Saturday morning and were informed that they would have had to spend the next ten hours until their connecting flight to Guyana. Mr. Ninvalle further explained at a media briefing at the Water Chris Hotel, that as is usually the case in instances like these, coach of the team, Terrence Poole collected the boxers’ passports shortly before they left on a sightseeing mission. Mr. Poole corroborated Ninvalle’s recital while explaining that one of the boxers, Boatswain had elected to remain at the airport but shortly after the boarding operations had commenced he realized that he had misplaced his transit ticket for the forward journey.
Mr. Poole related that he instructed the boxer to go to the relevant desk to have a replacement and that was the last time he saw Boatswain. This boxer is the only one to be in possession of his passport
The coach said that he immediately contacted Mr. Ninvalle with the news and together the two executives carried out a thorough search in the hope of finding the boxers. Realizing that it was a fruitless gesture Ninvalle said that he engaged immigration officials at the JFK Airport, relating his suspicions. He said that the officials made the necessary documentation before he and Poole departed for Guyana.
Meanwhile, the GABA President convened an emergency meeting with his executive yesterday morning to examine the issue and decide on the way forward. It was at this forum that Mr. Ninvalle expressed total frustration at the situation while threatening to give up the presidential post. He later reneged on his threat after the entire executive expressed confidence in his leadership qualities while pledging their support, requesting that he remain at the helm.
He said, “I’m saddened at this unprofessional, unpatriotic and selfish act and it has done injury to the sport and we don’t know how long it will take to repair.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Ninvalle informed media operatives that he has dispatched several letters to various entities briefing their respective heads on the matter.
Among them are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minster of Home Affairs and the President of the Guyana Olympics Association, Mr. KA Juman Yassin. Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Sport, was also briefed. Mr. Ninvalle has also indicated that he would dispatch a letter to the officials at the United States Embassy.
The GABA president said that it was the most shameful act by any sports representative of this country and his executives were determined to send a strong message to discourage those nurturing such thoughts in the future. He explained that he has sought and received the support of the other executives to increase the amount of punishment allocated to pugilists who engage in such acts. “At the moment the constitution only allows us to institute a one year ban on boxers committing such disgraceful acts,” he said. “I believe that the punishment must suit the crime and to my mind, this act is totally unpatriotic and shameful and must be met with strong sanctions,” exhorted Mr. Ninvalle.
He opined that a lifetime ban would be a just response. To this effect, a motion was unanimously passed to increase the suspension time. “Given the chance, I would ban them for life,” a clearly upset Ninvalle pronounced.
Vice President of the GABA, Maurice Rajkumar was also visibly upset by the turn of events and noted that the boxers’ decision to abscond was unpatriotic and selfish. He related that these very boxers had demonstrated exemplary conduct at the Pan American Games in Puerto Rico, where he served as the manager of the boxing team.
He could not fathom the reason for the recent defection. He noted that GABA executives had great plans for the trio since they were regarded as the best local talent available.
“These were our core boxers that we had identified to tutor and nurture for the 2012 Olympics and now all those plans and resources have been wasted,” Ninvalle lamented.
He noted that, “Now it’s back to the drawing board.” He further disclosed that the GABA would be dispatching a letter to the parent body, AIBA for any sanctions that they may see fit.
And Mr. Ninvalle informed that notwithstanding the turn of events, he has accepted the vote of confidence of his executives and plans to continue agitating for measures towards the boxers’ development.
Meanwhile, information on the US Immigration website pertaining to the laws governing intransit visas, informs that a person intransit has 29 days to leave the country.
After this period a person is deemed illegal if they do not apply for the relevant extension to remain longer at the authorities consent.
While, the boxers may not technically be on the illegal status list at the moment, they have clearly violated the trust of their management team and reneged on the arrangements put in place for them to return home at a prescribed time with the remainder of the delegation, who have since returned home.