TROUBLED WATERS
THE Martin Lyn-led Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) is again in the firing line as coaches have expressed disappointment with the treatment dished out by the administration, which has left them feeling undervalued and unappreciated for the work they do in moulding the country’s emerging talent.
That, along with the absence of a lifeguard on the pool deck to oversee training sessions, was among issues raised during the ASAJ’s annual general meeting (AGM) recently.
Kaizen Swim Club Head Coach Rory Alvaranga, who was last year banned from accessing the National Aquatic Centre, even went further to question Lyn’s and some of his officers’ integrity and commitment to the sport’s growth locally.
He believes the administration comprises some individuals who put selfish ambitions ahead of that of the country’s athletes.
“They refuse to ensure a level playing field to safeguard athletes’ health and removing any and all forms of misconduct within the administration,” the former national coach told the Jamaica Observer.
“We saw in 2019 when President Lyn spoke down about one of the country’s athletes, saying she is not the best, and he was still returned to office. There was even a time when three elected officers led the entire council to vote improper[ly], which speaks to governance issues.
“So the governance of the ASAJ needs to be brought under the microscope. Persons need to stand up against the injustices being meted out against the children and some coaches in swimming,” Alvaranga argued.
Another stakeholder, Maurice Saunders brought that issue of Alvaranga’s barring to the fore during the almost three-hour long AGM, which was staged virtually, but was stopped in his track before getting his point across.
“What I am about to address has to do with the treatment of personnel, especially coaches. And this particular coach has been told recently that he is not to enter the premises,” Saunders noted before being interrupted by Lyn.
“Mr Saunders, I am going to nicely stop you there because I know nothing about that and I really would want the ability to just investigate why that was done,” the president chimed in.
When contacted by the Observer for further comment, Lyn maintained that he is unaware of such a situation but promised to get to the bottom of it.
But the Observer has since obtained a copy of a letter which revealed that Alvaranga was in fact banned from the National Aquatic Centre.
The letter, dated July 1, 2022 on an ASAJ letter head with Lyn’s signature affixed, advised Alvaranga that he would be suspended from accessing the facility with immediate effect, pending investigation of an incident in which he was alleged to have attacked his daughter at the YMCA pool.
An email dated September 16, 2022 also surfaced in which Facilities Manager Raymond Hall queried whether or not the ban against Alvaranga was still in place. A response from secretary Shauna Jackson confirmed that the ban was still in place.
When quizzed further about the letter, Lyn acknowledged its authenticity.
“Oh, if it’s that letter you’re talking about, that ban was a council decision because of what eyewitness reported that the coach did. That matter is still pending as it is serious,” Lyn told the Observer.
Alvaranga rebutted, stating that Lyn breached due process.
He said the evidence against Lyn again brings into sharp focus the issue of integrity.
“Regardless of the allegations, Lyn does not have any constituted authority to issue any sanctions on any member. It is the disciplinary panel that issues sanctions, which are binding. This is just another ultra vires act of Lyn who is oblivious to the constitution, and I am glad that he is now admitting to the ban.
“World Aquatics [formerly FINA] has now made it easy for any member to report the lack of transparency and constitutional breaches. This integrity unit is big on governance so it will no longer be business as usual where Lyn and FINA referees can hand down bans without due process,” Alvaranga argued.
Earlier during the meeting, Lynval Lowe, the head coach of Swimaz Aquatic Swim Club, took the administration to task for what he claimed was their lack of regard for coaches’ well-being.
Along with the lifeguard issue, Lowe’s other concerns included, but were not limited to, the absence of a locker room for coaches.
“As a coach over these years we have been at that pool and we know presidents come and go, but we are putting it to you, Mr Lyn, to look at what us coaches need and work with us. A lot of coaches have left the facility and gone somewhere else because they are not pleased,” a perturbed Lowe said.
Prior to that, Annelies Denny, a Tornadoes Swim Club Council representative, urged Lyn and his officers to address the lifeguard issue with some degree of urgency.
“Because these things can blow up into very big things and I don’t know what repercussions this could have. I mean, we are already on breaking ice with swimming; it doesn’t seem to be front and centre in terms of sporting likes in Jamaica so we don’t want any issues to add to it that we just get shut down by the ministry or whoever. So, I feel very strongly that at least one lifeguard should be there and this should be a priority,” Denny asserted.
Lyn, throughout the meeting, offered that he had taken note of the issues raised and would take the suggestions regarding the coaches under advisement to be addressed at another meeting.
Lyn later offered a position on the coaches’ aired concerns.
“The coach is saying that the ASAJ must give coaches cafeteria and private bathrooms. I have been all over the world at various international meets [and] bathrooms at pools are shared by coaches, athletes and officials. The only thing that makes sense is the lockers, and that is something that we will look into — and I said that in the meeting,” Lyn told the Observer.
“In addition to that, one must always remember that the coaches earn money. They make a lot of money at the pool so if we don’t keep the pool in pristine conditions, how will the coaches earn money that they do? And then when you sort of ask coaches to help out later on, no coach really jumps forward to help around. So it is not a situation where we have ignored coaches, it’s a situation where we have to live together with coaches,” he reasoned.