Judoka dissatisfied despite GOA mediator to resolve impasse

Jul 18, 2009 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin
The executive committee of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), in response to a request by black belt judoka, Andy Moore, to appoint a mediator to quell the raging dispute between himself and the executives of the Association, has appointed Vice President, Charles Corbin to mediate and pacify the situation and restore the association to some semblance of normalcy.
Despite the GOA’s attempt to pacify the situation, Moore, who is also a part of the committee, says he is not optimistic of a commendable resolution and has threatened to withdraw from the proceedings.
The impasse had its genesis a few months ago when Moore penned a letter to the executive body of the Guyana Olympic Association seeking its intervention in a matter he felt was compromising the development of the sport.

According to Moore, the Judo Association under the presidency of Jeff Sankies had not seen any tangible progression. He also said that Sankies was not accommodative to fresh ideas. Moore further accused the Judo Association President of employing high handed attitudes, which had affected the development of the sport to the extent that the development of the sport has been severely compromised.
Moore recently constructed the Anidan Dojo at his Festival City Residence, a facility he felt would have complemented the House of Water and the Rising Sun, the other two local Judo clubs, managed by Vibert Stroom and Bruce Fraser, respectively.
However, he complained that despite his most stringent efforts, the executive of the Guyana Judo Association were reluctant to accept his facility into the fold. He said that attempts to obtain the relevant acceptance have led him to extend an invitation to President of the Judo Association, Jeff Sankies, to visit the facility and appraise the situation there.

“Mr. Sankies blatantly refused to come to the Dojo,” Moore lamented. He also said that one, Burkley Charles had visited the Dojo and had criticised its location, saying that the facility was situated in a basement and was not suited for Judo activities. Moore said that Charles had also cited inadequate space as a reason for non accreditation. Another complaint made by Charles to the executive of the Judo Association was that Moore had cut the mats, donated by the Judo Association, to accommodate the small, inadequate training area.
Moore said that shortly after this prognosis, Charles Ambrose, the highest ranking judo member locally, visited his facility and pronounced that his (Moore) facility had met the requisite criteria. He also felt that the Anidan Dojo should receive the kudos it deserves and be accepted among the other established Dojos. Despite this prognosis, Moore said that the executives of the Judo Association refused to acknowledge his Dojo.

Consequently, he had sought redress through the intervention of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA). Recently, the Judo practitioner has got his wish after Mr. Corbin’s appointment. Seven other persons, including Moore, have been identified to comprise the committee, headed by Vibert Stroom.
In a telephone interview yesterday afternoon, Corbin acknowledged his appointment, while informing that the group, headed by Stroom, has agreed in principle to institute a steering committee to manage the affairs of the beleaguered association. The committee has been given a mandate to review the existing constitution with an aim of arriving at a collective consensus within 90 days. He said that the group was given a specific frame of reference and matters falling outside of this frame of reference would only be dealt with if they were considered to be urgent in nature.

Moore commended the GOA for their intervention, while saying that they should have taken this tact ages ago. He accused Sankies of presiding over an unconstitutional body since the constitutional date for election of office bearers has elapsed some six years ago.
However, Moore is not completely satisfied. He has now contrived other issues. He is asking for the withdrawal of a letter earlier penned by Sankies to the GOA proclaiming the Anidan Dojo to be substandard.
Moore has since threatened to retract his services from the committee if his requests did not find favourable consideration with the other members of the said committee. “I am also a bit worried that the required changes to be enacted will not find approval from the members of this committee,” Moore lamented. He did not elaborate.

Meanwhile Secretary of the GOA, Ivor O’Brien confirmed knowledge of the issue. He said that the GOA had acquiesced to a request by Moore to investigate several irregularities in the Judo Association. “We have appointed Mr. (Charles) Corbin to investigate the mater and I think it is only too fair to allow him to complete the task,” O’Brien said.
For his part, Corbin cannot understand why Moore is complaining. “Andy Moore is very much a part of this process,” Corbin disclosed. He said that to date the group had convened thrice and Moore had attended two of these sessions. Corbin also disclosed that during his absence at one of the meetings, Moore had identified a representative to deal with issues arising out of the Anidan Dojo.

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