The Old Boys’ associations of Kingston College, (KC) Jamaica College (JC) and Calabar have formed a collaboration which we have dubbed ‘Three the Hard Way’. This collaboration grew out of the recognition that all three schools, which are, arguably, the top boys’ schools in Jamaica, face similar challenges and have much to gain from collaborating — even as we remain fierce, yet friendly rivals. We believe that much good will come from our collaborative efforts.

Our collaboration has included a cross-section of areas which we believe will continue to deepen the capacity of each of the institutions, and collectively create an opportunity for our young men to exist in an environment which can be friendly while being competitive. Some of the programmes include brand education (as we attempt to protect our various brands from exploitation), sharing expertise on educating boys, sharing facilities to enrich the teaching and learning experience, collaborating to ensure that more of our boys matriculate to tertiary institutions, and staging a highly successful retro party in the week before Champs. Calling this collaboration a “cartel” is a misguided and cynical misnomer that trivialises the value of reducing the sometimes violent ways in which some students deploy the rivalry and ignores the benefits of pulling together and sharing resources, like labs, playing fields and auditoriums.

On the specific matter of Champs and the ability of patrons to be present, especially on ‘Super Saturday’, this has always been contentious. Last year, in particular, was very problematic and many patrons and fans were left disgruntled, disenfranchised and felt ‘dissed’ by a system that failed spectacularly. In the midst of this, there were the usual rumours about the tickets, “the most precious commodity in Jamaican sports”. One that made the rounds held that the tickets had been gobbled up by our three schools and Old Boys’ associations. This rumour, however, ran a poor second to the most popular one, which held that the tickets had been hijacked by the event sponsors. According to this rumour, the sponsors had commandeered the Grandstand, demanding their pound of flesh and even threatening withdrawal of their support for the event. Placed in such an invidious position, the rumour mill persisted, the poor ISSA capitulated and employed the medals trays to hand over the bulk of the Grandstand tickets to the Payers of the Piper. In fact, in 2015, through Inter-Secondary School Sports Association’s (ISSA) benevolence, Calabar Old Boys’ Association (COBA) received 80 tickets; Jamaica College Old Boys’ Association (JCOBA) received 20; Kingston College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) received none!

The explanations that were later forthcoming from a hapless ISSA — while not retaining the same dramatic language — appeared to be lame attempts to vitiate the rumours, as they, too, seemed to suggest that sponsors had requested and been given more tickets than in previous years. Never mind that this would have been done at the expense of the fans and important stakeholders like the alumni associations.

The question that has always loomed large, time and again, is how are tickets allocated? Where, when and how can fans access tickets? Tickets are clearly not allocated on the first come first serve basis that some claim. Last year’s farce belied this ISSA-proclaimed ethical position. Rather, there seems to be a continued lack of transparency in this process. So ‘Three the Hard Way’ reached out to ISSA, through its president, to express concern around this and to request dialogue on that and other matters concerning the welfare of the student athletes and the operations of ISSA programmes. We have concerns about how student athletes are treated and would like to work towards ensuring that their educational success is not held to ransom due to their athletic talents. We know of what we speak. The question of the prize money awarded to winners of various sporting competitions is another area in which we would like to engage ISSA in discussions. For example, it is our view that unless there is meaningful intervention, traditional football competitions like the Manning Cup and the daCosta Cup may find themselves being side-lined, losing their gild to the Super Cup, which pays out a million dollars to the winner. More food for thought: the winners of Boys’ and Girls’ Championships are awarded less prize money than the winners of All Together Sing. Hmm. And there’s much more.

The response of ISSA to our request for dialogue, however, was less than welcoming — dismissive, even — and this was one of the matters shared with the media recently in the discussion about ‘Three the Hard Way’. The general focus on our request for more tickets — in the case of KCOBA, even one ticket! — has missed the essence of our concern: the lack of transparency in the allocation of tickets to this premier sporting event in Jamaica. A more transparent system, that is also open to scrutiny, should be in place for the allocation of tickets; and we believe that, as important stakeholders in the process, we should be at the table. (And, à la Shirley Chisholm, if they don’t give us a seat at the table, we are prepared to bring a folding chair!)

Our Old Boys’ Associations have always been significant stakeholders in the development of our schools, and our efforts have borne fruit in many ways, including improved academic performance and sporting excellence. Our associations contribute to the welfare and learning of current students through scholarships, mentoring, feeding programmes, etc. Millions of dollars are spent annually on medical bills, physiotherapy, nutrition and hydration, feeding programmes, training camps and athletic equipment and gear. The harsh reality is that these costs are borne by the alumni of each institution. A rough estimate puts the expenditure of each school each year on its athletic programme above that of any single sponsorship package we have heard announced. In essence, this makes Calabar, JC and KC (The BIG THREE), collectively, the largest financial contributor (read: sponsor) in making the event the success it is each year.

What ISSA and those who write on the matter need to come to terms with is that the BIG THREE exists and that we provide a significant input for ISSA to have a viable product to market and sell. Surely, one would think, allowances must be made to engage us in the decision-making process in relation to such matters as the allocation of funds to schools for development, tickets for the event and even the use of the BIG THREE in marketing the event. After all, the BIG THREE concept is nothing new. It is used in education, business, music and, of course, sports — especially for its promotional value. Could ISSA be missing a trick by not even allowing themselves to have discussions with us?

Our request does not mean we are the only associations that should be so considered, but we do ask that our singular contribution to the event — through our support of the sports programmes at our alma maters — be given serious consideration and be honestly regarded. Nor is it in any way a suggestion that our Old Boys or current students are more entitled to a seat in the grandstand than any other. Let us also make it clear that we are not trying to get free tickets. Our members will pay for the tickets. But as we have pointed out before, this issue of Champs tickets is but one of the many that we are trying to address through discussions with ISSA.

It is too easy to dismiss our concerns with charges of elitism and injustice. Justice does not entail treating everyone the same; that is actually inequity, and its pursuit may end up treating those who have put more on the table unfairly. That this is recognised is seen in the claims made that sponsors were given more tickets in 2015. The claim of the sponsors regarding their contribution to the event was honoured in this fashion, while the contribution of the three premier alumni associations continues to be given short shrift. How is that sending “the right message of fairness, justice, equality and transparency”?

Dr Patrick Dallas is President of the Kingston College Old Boys’ Association