Sprint champion dreams of the day he can resume sports

Nov 30, 2011 News

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By Leon Suseran

Having represented Guyana in several countries and earning the title of leading national sprinter, Guyana Police Force (GPF) Constable #13835 Michael Saul dreams of the day he can regain the use of his right foot, and resume his exploits on the track.
Kaieteur News recently caught up with the sprint champion, who resides at the Police Living Quarters in the compound of the Springlands Station.

Saul related his frustrating situation whereby his dreams of furthering his athletic skills are being placed on the backburner.
It all began on December 24, 2010, when while going to work, the traffic rank saw a car coming out of the Johns, Port Mourant, University of Guyana Campus Street. The car was going to proceed to New Amsterdam. Saul was on his police motorcycle.
“After I see the car pulling down to the parapet…no indicator, his trafficator wasn’t on. After doing that I started to blow my horn,” he recounted.
Saul said he thought the driver saw him in his rearview mirror and was waiting for him (Saul) to pass. Saul proceeded and was “about to pass him, [an] average about 3 feet”. The driver also proceeded and then stopped abruptly after seeing Saul approaching the same direction. Saul said to avoid a collision, he allowed his bike to crash into the trench, but it was too late. He collided with the left side of the car, “that is when I broke my foot and fly up in the air, dropped…my body come to a halt”.
A policeman and another traffic rank who both arrived on the scene assisted Saul and he was taken to the N/A Hospital, after which he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. He underwent surgery the same evening where a fixator was installed on his foot.
“I received a phone call that the man and his vehicle was at home,” Saul said. Shocked and surprised altogether, Saul asked that he be immediately transferred back to the N/A Hospital.  He spent the next five days in hospital and was then released. He did a few more surgeries and bone and skin grafts.
Saul said that the driver was never charged.
“From the grapevine I am hearing that the man is a very close friend to a sergeant of Police.” Saul said that the driver insisted that he (Saul) pay $110,000 when he gets better, the cost of the money it took to repair the car.  Saul agreed to this but that the other part of the matter, namely compensation for his broken foot, was not adequately addressed.
Saul added that he was then informed that he would be charged for causing an accident, speeding and dangerous driving, an unlicenced motorbike and breach of insurance, and that the file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). However, these were later dropped.
He made contact with the Police Welfare Department and spoke to Bone Specialist Dr Jeffery, who instructed the other doctor to remove the bone fragments in his feet. This did not happen and Saul informed the Welfare Department, but claims no help has been forthcoming.
They just keep dragging their foot”.
He sent a letter to the Commissioner of Police but said that he received no response as well.
“At least being the number one Sprinter for the GPF and country, I mean, they should be little more reasonable with me, knowing my future is at stake here,” he lamented. He noted that his current situation is a “big, big throwback” seeing that he could miss selection for the Olympics next year in London.
“People in higher authority who supposed to look down to these things and take me to private [hospital]…and see how best they could bring me back…nothing has been done”. He noted that it is very difficult to travel from Springlands to Georgetown twice per month, and this has been proving very costly, “plus my wife got bills to pay and house to maintain”.
He commended two senior officers, Mr Ian Amsterdam and Mr Alves, in the Force who used to visit him a lot and take a lot of interest in what had happened to him.
“The President of the Athletics Association, Mr Colin Boyce, didn’t even call me since the accident, and he staff called me and he couldn’t do that”, he said.
Saul stressed that he would appreciate it a great lot if the force can assist him with private treatment.
When this newspaper visited Saul, he required the assistance of crutches to walk and his right foot has a steel fixator implanted within. He is surrounded in his home by dozens of trophies which he collected over the years after being successful in several athletic events for the GPF. The trophies serve as stark reminders of his previous involvement in sports and only fuel his desires to get well so that he can resume participating in the things that he loves to do.

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