National 13-14 swim champion Amy Grant under FIRE

Sep 20, 2015 Sports

GASA, Ministry of Sports to clarify Cuban coach duties

Dear Editor,
Amy Grant, Girls 13-14 National Long Course and Short Course Freestyle and Butterfly Champion returned on Monday, September 14 to the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal after a five-week layoff from swimming due to illness.
She swam on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with Cuban Coach Isabel Couso Fals who is in Guyana via the Government to Government, Coach Swimming initiative where she assists schools and helps swimmers from clubs.
On Thursday I received a call from Colin Beaton, President of Amy’s club, Silver Sharks. I was told by Mr. Beaton that the coaches are refusing to coach Amy and so when I go to the pool I should expect that.
I asked who were the coaches since an official letter should have been sent to him stating on what grounds the coaches were refusing to coach her but he did not say who they were. He also stated that the matter has to be sorted out and that he can’t leave it like that because Amy is a member of Silver Shark Swim Club.
However he added that he had to wait for someone to come back from overseas and the situation will be dealt with. Later that afternoon when I arrived at the pool with Amy I went to Amy’s Coach Isabel Couso Fals who was sitting with Ms. Elke Rodrigues – Guyana Amateur Swimming Association Vice President of Administration/Fund Raising and Orca’s Swim Club representative and Coach, Sean Baksh.
I enquired of Ms. Couso Fals twice if she has refused to Coach Amy and she shook her head from side to side which I interpreted as a no. I then proceeded to ask Mr. Baksh if he said so and he replied with a resounding, yes.
Since I was already at the pool, I approached Ms. Stephanie Fraser of Dorado Speed Swim Club and asked for Amy to train with her for the afternoon and she gave her approval. Two weeks ago Amy and her mother met Ms. Couso Fals on Regent Street and she told them that swimming was going to resume on September 1st.
Amy’s mom told her Amy is not well and was awaiting the doctor’s approval to get back into the water. Ms. Couso Fals came from Cuba through the Guyana Government to train school children and she was also asked to assist the members of the swim clubs.
Amy is coached by Ms. Couso Fals and her mother. Since Amy is not coached by Mr. Baksh and Ms. Fals came to assist with swimming via the Government, Amy’s parents would like to know from the Minister of Sports how it is possible that Amy who is both a school child and a club member isn’t privileged to benefit from Ms. Fals expertise.
Only two weeks ago the story of Amy challenging GASA on the Girls 13 – 14 50m Short Course Butterfly record was in the news. The record was held by Noelle Smith with a time of 33.74 and Amy surpassed it with a time of 33.56 but to date it has not been ratified or acknowledged by the GASA.
Since then Amy has been faced with adversities and GASA has not responded to a letter which was sent by Amy’s mother regarding the 50m butterfly record since July. Sean Baksh is not Silver Sharks coach and he does not coach Amy.
There is no National Swim squad and GASA does not have a Head Coach. How then is it possible for Mr. Baksh to stop Amy from training with Ms. Fals? The Minister of Sports being the representation of the Ministry that brought Ms. Causo Fals to Guyana and GASA being the federation of swimming in Guyana need to shed some light on this matter.
Respectfully,
Rudy Grant
Father of Amy Grant

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