The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) says it has to employ a strategy of tight fiscal planning to run their core business in the reality of limited financial resources.

Even with the support of the state-run Sports Development Foundation (SDF) and international apparel sponsor PUMA, the athletics body has moved to clear up public misconception that it is awashed with cash.

Treasurer Ludlow Watts pointed out that the organisation’s restraint in making public pleas for help should not been viewed that the organisation does face the proverbial challenges associated with running a governing body for sport, especially in the unique context of Jamaica.

Watts, speaking at the Jamaica Observer Press Club at the tabloid’s Beechwood Avenue headquarters on Friday, revealed that the JAAA’s annual budget can range between J$175 million to $215 million. He noted that this has been the scenario over the past three years.

“We pride ourselves in what we do and we do not go around asking and begging. If you look at our audited reports each year, you would always see bank balances and the bank balances have to do with revolving loans that have to do with preparations of teams going away, so we do that,” he said.

He continued: “So we do not go ahead and cry as many people do; but sometimes in our financial statements released November every year, you will see that $28-$30 million is sort of bank liabilities that we have, but we do that and we manage.

“We also have an excellent relationship with our bankers and we pay well, so we do not have any difficulties. The point is, we are not awash with cash, but we are definitely aiming to provide the best preparation for athletes and we have done so based on our success.”

Watt revealed that between the years 2001-2014, a total of J$60.1 million was spent on athletes, and the budget would be altered based on the scheduling of events in a particular calendar year.

Fortunately, the organisation’s salary payment is currently capped at J$2 million per annum and covers two permanent administrative workers.

“What happens is that whenever there is a shortfall, we actually use short-term bank financing to cover whatever we need…. but truth be told we have a lot of expenses and a part of it is athletes assistance,” Watts told the Observer’s team of reporters and editors and the special forum.

He also pointed to the high cost of covering athletes in competition.

“When teams travel (or) when we have national championships, if an athlete is based overseas and comes here and makes the team, we have to fund the airfare. So we have a lot of expenses, so basically whenever there is shortfall, we seek bank funding,” he explained

JAAA president Dr Warren Blake made an appeal to corporate Jamaica to come on board and support athletes in the development phases, suggesting that they shouldn’t only come on board when the teams are successful at major championships.

“Support the federation so we can in turn support the athletes because the income for the federation is not for our benefit, but for the benefit of athletics in Jamaica,” he urged.

Meanwhile, media relations officer of the JAAA, Dennis Gordon, also moved to to set the record straight.

“We don’t make money. It is a constant challenge outside of our apparel sponsor, which is PUMA and the support we get through the SDF and we have companies coming in who support us and events. But I am not sure that corporate Jamaica has done enough and we find it almost challenging to get any support at all from corporate Jamaica, so there is limited resources that flows into the coffers of the JAAA,” he said.

JAAA treasurer Ludlow Watts (2nd right) addresses the Jamaica Observer Press Club at the newspaper’s Beechwood Avenue offices on Friday. Also seated at the head table (from left)) are media officer Dennis Gordon, president Dr Warren Blake and vice-president Ian Forbes. (PHOTO: NAPHTALI JUNIOR)