By Orville Clarke, Gleaner WriterA HEATED exchange between Caymanas Track Limited's (CTL) chairman William Chin See and the outspoken vice-president of the Trainers' Association Vin Edwards ran neck and neck with the burning issues emerging from the annual general meeting of the Jamaica Racehorse Owners' Association (JROA) at the Hotel Four Seasons, Ruthven Road, on Sunday.
Chin See, speaking from the floor in his presentation to clarify matters as an invited observer, said he was disheartened by the condition of a controversial stretch of roadway within the stable area and emphasised that the road should have been completed last December.
He proceeded to bash the consultants, and in a defiant tone, declared "no further funds will be paid to that contractor until the road is properly fixed".
Chin See also touched on the vexed question of purses, pointing out that money from the Levy Scheme will be $10 to $12 million less.
"CTL has a commitment to pay on the basis of the money decreed for purses in November of the year before", Chin See said. He proceeded to elaborate on other factors affecting cash flow at CTL, when Edwards challenged his figures.
"Oono don't know what is happening at the plant", shouted Edwards, going a step further in calling for a full investigation of the road issue. He accused CTL of bad management and posed questions to the chairman of CTL:
"How much money you owe Government? How much increase you have in turnover this year?"
Continuing, Edwards said:
"Racing business need people with experience... one to look 'bout the money part and one to deal with the promotion".
He then called for a restructuring of the company.
He also chided State Minister for Finance, Fitz Jackson for declining an invitation to attend the meeting.
"Jackson couldn't tell the Tourist Board or the JAS that him not coming. Is a disrespect for the industry... a total joke".
In response, Chin See refuted much of Edwards' claims pertaining to the management of CTL, capping it all by saying "I've never heard such nonsense".
Laurence Heffes of Blumenthal and Deputy's Report fame was returned unopposed as president of the JROA for the second straight year.
In his address, he identified the issue of Government's failure to deal with the JROA's Action Plan within the agreed time frame as the priority issue for the new executive.
The JROA issued a demand to the Government that it addresses the major points of the action plan within 30 days and announced the convening of an extra-ordinary general meeting in mid-May to assess Government's action or lack of it.
The JROA membership stated that it could not be held responsible if the decision taken at that meeting led to a disruption in the racing industry because of Government's failure to adequately respond to the JROA's Action Plan.
The new executive, he said, looks forward to the co-operation of all the racing associations and bodies in improving the horseracing and betting industries.
Heffes read a latter (dated April 5) from State Minister Jackson requesting that the JROA exercise "further patience", adding that "a piece-meal approach to the challenges cannot be pursed at this time, if the industry is to be made sustainable".
The association regarded this as an unsatisfactory response to the JROA and it will publicise efforts to engage government in meaningful discussions on the poor state of the racing industry.
The membership of the association however resisted calls from certain fractions for immediate protest action and exercise further patience by deciding to demand (in a resolution) that government, within the next 30 days:
(1) Make a specific proposal for meaningful purse increase. (2) Announce a management re-construction of CTL to deal with that company's leadership, efficiency and staffing, and (3) Make a specific response to the proposals from the racing industry for: (a) government to reduce its seven percent (7%) take from the tote, (b) government to restore to the racing industry the amount (estimated at $17.7 million in 2002) now taken from the racing industry's Overseas Levy Scheme by the Ministry of Finance and paid to the Ministry of Sports.
All officers in the top posts of the association was returned en bloc for the ensuing year: Heffes as president, Newton Newland - vice president, Bernard Vincent - secretary and, Dennis Howell - treasurer. Vincent was appointed secretary on the resignation of Jeffrey Mordecai who constitutionally, was not eligible for any of the top posts, he being a life member.
The election for the posts of three directors saw seven members facing off.
In a close race, incumbents Errol Subratie (21 votes) and Vin Lumsden (20 votes), along with new kid on the block, Raymond "Mitta" Rousseau (20 votes) were elected, defeating former director Frank Parham (19), Walter Reynolds (19), Esmond Thomas (18) and former many-time president Dr. Paul Wright (12).
The meeting heard views from the floor on how to save the racing industry by Trainers' Association president Lee Clarke who called for a tote monopoly, former racing commissioner Tony Phillips who supported the call, Wayne DaCosta who chided the CTL maintenance manager for neglecting the stable area, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's (TOBA) president Howard Hamilton who said asking the government to reduce tax at this time is out of the question, and Dennis Howell who quite bluntly called for drastic action at this time.
The meeting observed a minute's silence for late owners A.V. Bell and Dr. Distir Misir, both of whom passed away in recent months.
