Controversy is stirring in the Dominica Amateur Athlete Association (DAAA) as the island cancelled its participation in the 2013 Central America and Caribbean Age Group Championship which was scheduled for Curacao this weekend.
DAAA president, Cedric Harris, told DNO on Friday that a decision has been made to pull out the Dominica contingent of seven athletes who were expected to take part in the games.
The entire matter began on Wednesday when the athletes and a coach went to Melville Hall Airport to travel to Trinidad with onward connection to Curacao for the games. However they were told by travel agents at the airport that no arrangements were in the system indicating that they were confirmed to leave Dominica.
This has angered former coach, Nabi Wallace, who pointed the finger at Harris and claimed this was one of many ‘mistakes by the DAAA President.’ He said these mistakes started in June 2012 “when Team Dominica was turned back in Trinidad because they did not have proper travel documentations to travel on to El Salvador for the CAC Junior Championships.”
“It was followed by a big scandal with the 2013 Carifta Games National team who had to sleep on benches in Panama on their way to Bahamas,” Wallace stated in a release.
But in his own defense Harris said confirmation for travel was indeed made with LIAT for the athletes to travel to Curacao. “Communication with LIAT was done, the information was given to LIAT, LIAT confirmed, sent an itinerary and confirmation number but what happened was when the confirmation number was entered into the system it showed confirmed from Trinidad to Curacao,” he explained.
He said that after speaking to LIAT, he was informed that an error was made which the airline tried to mitigate by allowing the athletes on a flight to St. Martin, following which they would move on to Curacao. However, this could not materialize since there were no flights available from St. Martin to Curacao, according to Harris.
The President stated further that the secretary of the DAAA is the one who is actually supposed to be dealing with flight arrangements but, according to him, the secretary has not been pulling his weight thus he has been performing the bulk of the work.
Wallace is now calling for the immediate resignation of Harris stating that too many “mistakes” are being made and this in turn has caused athletes to suffer.
However, Harris dismissed the call claiming that Wallace has a “personal vendetta” against him since decisions were made in 2012 concerning his non selection as a coach.
“”If something is not done in his way, he will find a way to come out and criticize … he gets on and tries to make a big thing out of everything,” Harris stated.
Harris indicated that he understands how disappointed that the athletes may feel at this time however he has apologized to them and and their parents and is currently trying to get them to participate in another game since they have been preparing for quite some time.
This is not the professional way to deal with matters. If the board is having a problem with Harris they should seat in a forum n discuss. Many people do not know but, Harris has all the qualifications to be in the post he is now. Everyone want post but no one wants to get the qualities to be in the post.
To be eligible for the job, experience and qualifications should be included among determining factors, however, performance is key in maintaining the position or for promotion.
Readings, Harris may have the qualification but he certainly lacks the skills needed to apply the knowledge. There is no professional way in dealing with Harris get your facts together and know that he ignores anyone who challenge him. A piece of paper in your hand means nothing if you can’t show its worth in action.
‘@ Application, totally agreed. His behavior on the program yesterday was grossly unprofessional as a leader of an organisation. His quote, “under no circumstances will I resign.” In my mind this is an incompetent captain who rather see the ship perish with no regards to the young passengers onboard instead of let the reigns go for a more competent captain in order to save the young lives. At the end of the day, the young athletes are the one who suffers. I encourage every parent who has a young track athlete to stand up and fight against the arrogant, ignorant and egotistic guy. If he does not step down, there will be measures that as per the DAAA constitution to have him ousted. If you need to sign a petition to the IAAF General Secretary, then so be it.
At the end of the day he needs to remember that the association exist because of the athletes. Watching closely the situation with the senior athletes who should be leaving island soon for the Senior CAC Champs.
Mr. Harris if you are reading this, for the love of the sport and for the development of our young athletes please step down and apologize to the parents of those young kids who were forced to sleep in an airport while on National duty, and to many kids who were in route to competitions but either never made it to their destination or never left island because of your leadership. Don’t blame your secretary.
One Love Dominicans
Mr. Harris needs o step aside; plain and simple. He is an incompetent opportunist who has done everything under the table and half ass spanning from his career as an athlete to when he travelled as a coach with young athletes, and now as president of the DAAA. He is known in the region as an excessive complainer and very unorganized. He is signing a petition to have the present DOC executive to step down in the hopes that he will be the president of the DOC. Well Mr. Harris, the athletes have declared a vote of no confidence in your leadership. Please step down for the continued development of track and field in Dominica.
Do not continue to disappoint and discourage our athletes from participation in on of our more successful sports on the island and prevent them from getting the opportunities which are available outside of Dominica. Wether it is true or not that Mr. Wallace has a personal problem with you, or you with him, you both need to remember that without these athletes, the association does not exist. I know that we have athlete reps in the association, I implore you Mr. Joseph and Miss Hilton to do your duty as athletes representatives and take their concerns to the association.
At the end of the day, we need people in these associations who will put the best interest of the athletes at hand and not people who are in there for a overseas trips.
As a former national athlete, this is very heart breaking and needs to be rectified immediately less these young men and women give up on the sport.
One Love Dominicans.
Mr Harris , will you please stop blaming LIAT ,i travel to and from that airport 2 to 3 times a day,so most of us who do that knows the staff and whats taking place on the airport, u can call it airport politices, how can liat say a mistake was made and try to send you via st.maarten when liat dont fly from st.maarten to curacao, one would have to island hop from st.maarten to curacao on the same flight that you could not get out on in dominica . chances are that the staff will be ask to write a report and the booking history will be accessed and the DAAA fault will be seen.
There is clearly more going on here than poor organisation. Even a parent could have assisted in making those bookings. This is not rocket science. People travel all the time. Why are Dominican athletes being failed? Unacceptable. Stop the blame game, both of you! The kids are suffering!
that is what the president need to come and tel us about, that statement is totally off. It is a big deal! How bad does it have to get before it is a big deal? wrong is wrong , not because is Wallace that talk for it to look like nothing , i know alot is not happy about it and they a not talking and i know Mr Wallace he will talk and say when somthing is wrong and that is what i like about him
Coach Nabi is a hard worker and has a passion for the sport. The athletes need a voice not people who still believe that “this is only a hobby and so not important if they make this game or not”.
If there was money involved like the N B A see how respectful people would be…
When athletes prepare so intensely, why should they be forever discouraged?
You are travelling as the coach of a team – you are not interested in your athletes well being as well as yours. Your tickets passports etc should be in hand at least 2 days prior – I would say one week as to deal with any problems athletes may have.
Stop sabotaging sports in the interest of gaining office or trying to oust someone who is in office or even making oneself look more qualified.
I am not saying that there may not be issues but this was avoidable. The free trips you all get have you all not lifting one finger – everything should be done for you.
Nabi you are cool but come on – if you were the coach travelling would you not have ensured that you are confirmed and your athletes all have passports, uniforms and tickets collected a few days in advance?
You all are disorganised and stop blaming each other. TEAM – you all are not together everyone is doing his or her own thing. It will and can happen to someone else based on what I read. Since COACH does not care one rats you know what.
This no way to handle a matter by so called professionals. Trying to undermine and get public attention to overthrow. If there is a problem .. you confront it head on with a discussion and you move on.. We are too caught up in our negativity and as long as we get others to follow we think we are wise…but wise in our own eyes….Power Power Power….is all we think about in Dominica and I think it comes from the fact that we believe we can change things when we have the position that dictates the money spending…. a kind of “Skeritits” You may do a face lift but the core is rotten. Mr Nabbi is putting too much scandal out there and we should be more professional……
To God be the glory….
nonsense talk… we think about the best interest of Dominica, and we need the best running things, not crap. simple
Which beach did they use in Pasnama- there are no beaches close to the airport – taxi fares are really expensive to and from the airport so that sounds a little odd to me . Next time you make sure everything is in order before you fly tickets reservations etc etc . If they are not dont fly.
The article said BENCH… not beach… take time and read before commenting nuh people. SMDH. And sorry that is one mistake too many. How much embarrassment can the team take?
benches my boy….. not beach
benches not beaches
I am not a sportsman but I follow sports a lot. I can see a lot of bad blood between these two men, it seem to be more than just the athletes not being able to travel and to take part in the competition.
The way it is going on Harris stepping down will not stop the controversy, it might all get worse! THESE MEN ALSO NEED TO GROW UP, AND IF THEY LOVE THE SPORT AS THEY ARE PROFESSING, HELP TO DEVELOP IT.
All sides seem to be behaving like children.
IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE JUST HARRIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHAME ON YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nabi, whether or not Harris resigns you are not suitable to be involved with our athletes and we who are involved in the sport know why? please stop blaming Harris who is carrying gthe weighgt all by himself. Have you tried getting the facts from the airline to verify Harris’s story? You are power hungry and you always run to the media to put Harris in bad light but its not the media that appointed Harris and the media cannot remove Harris.
I support lost hundred percent Wallace you will never get in there cause am from Trinidad a nd Tobago a nd you got the best president ever to govern the affairs of the athletics association every single day you and your Bunche of trouble makes trying to bring down mr. Harris he is not going no where you though want s to talk about what you did to the athlete from Tobago ok so sto trying to bring down Harris cause it won’t work o may god continue to bless you coach Harris and your team big up your viice president Watson
the person who wrote this, needs to correct their grammar. lol it seems like a child is commenting
the way forward for Dominica is putting someone who is not a coach as the president, someone who is in the best interest of the athletes and not biased. A new president needs to be placed, because all this is nonsense. and Dominican need to be educated more in sports management and not physical education
Put a woman in charge! They seem to be able to organise things better in this country. You only have to look at the recent exam results to see, who is making the noise and who is really performing.
but cant u see harris make no sence that man playing with the youth future he need to get out
Nabi always had a personal thing against Harris! He just waiting for Harris to slip so he can play hero! Fly your kite Nabi, IT MUST STICK ONE DAY!!!!
Why should Nabi automatically become the head of the DAAA if Cediric steps down? We should cast our net wider than that and go for the best manager we can find, even from outside the sport.
when people don’t understand things that are going on why don’t they listen and understand? why blame nabi when he had nothing to do with athletes being stranded for the third time? we Dominicans when we like someone they can put shit in our mouth and we’ll accept it before we tell them wrong is wrong and right is right.mr harris was wrong and he has to accept his wrong.
Since i know this country, Sports in de same spot.All associations in this country have the same problem,(selfishness)why do everybody want to run organisations like is their parents business they left for them?how all you expect people to feel?the whole country is being run the same way.DISCONNECTED;
Excuse me, I am one of the athletes that have been hurt by the President of the DAAA past mistakes. Thankful that Sir Nabi is putting himself in the line of fire for we the athletes. One thing I love about Sir Nabi is his ability to relate with any athlete whether or not they are from his club. People like him are who we need in our corner because he stands strong knowing fully well he will be blocked by the administrators for speaking out. Only who in the kitchen can feel the heat so only we the athletes know and understand where Sir Nabi is coming from. Thank God for DNO so that I can support him without fear of victimization.
If this isn’t incompetence by Harris I don’t know what is. You should be apologizing rather than saying Wallace has a personally vendetta. Only in Dominica you’re allowed to remain in your job with this dismal performance. Then again this is a pull string position of which you’re clearly not qualified for.
It is indeed time for Cedric Harris to step down and be replaced. This is happening too often and he is ultimately responsible. A promising athlete in his time does not necessarily make a good manager. Nothing personal but the interest of the athletes and the image of Dominica are more important than the interests of one man.
But harris don’t make …. how you can make athletes reach in an airport an though travelle stupess take out harris there
The problem is simple ,there was no consequence on the first episode so just like an infant repitition .Let there be a grave consequence so that those who fill those positions in the future will know the results of carelessness
This President should simply step down there is no excuse for Him ,especially when He says that Wallace is just trying to make a big deal out of it .That statement is totally off. It is a big deal! How bad does it have to get before it is a big deal?
At the rate these guys destroying sports in Dominica, I propose duels. One in football. One in Olympics and the Track and Field. Because I am fed up.
I am trying to understand why Mr. Harris is blaming LIAT, you are the one that has to ensure that your travel itinerary is correct. It is not the first time that this has happened under this president’s watch. The first time can be considered a mistake but three times! man get serious. He claims that Mr.Wallace has a vendetta against him but it seems that he is the one that has something against the athletes why he keep on messing them up.
All sports in Dominica have ro-ro now? Awah man
Anyway when some people have bad ways and a little mercy is shown on them they does cut style eh.
I will leave it at that because it not right to expose past mistakes.
Since a similar situation happened recently, this should not be allowed again. There is no way this is Liat’s fault. The person who received the confirmation should read it to see that there was a leg missing.
This is total disrepect for the athlete. As a former athlete, can Harris recall any moments where he was left stranded at the airport? This is mental frustration for the athletes.
There is no way Harris should be allowed to hold on to his position as President.
I think an international airport on the island would have been really useful in a case like this one…..just saying…by the way I would love to fly home with a little less aggravation of having all the f ing connections.
You can have an International Airport and no flights, no planes coming. Harris said they could have gotten to St Martin (International Airport) but there was no flights to Curaçao. Imagine DA little airport so dread with few flights. Last year I flew from PR to DA on Eagle with 7 other people. I wonder how many huge planes and people would come here?
Only time will tell. Disgruntled or not isn’t there a trend forming here? At the end of the day our athletes are the ones who always suffer. Que lastima!
While we must try to settle things in house there comes a time when you must speak out. Harris caused National athletes to miss out on many opportunities which has not been mentioned. This is the second time a Dominican contingent had to be sent back home under his presidency. Harris don’t answer certain people calls and emails so certain Coaches like Nabi is left on the sideline. All the problem from the 2013 Carifta Games team traveling to Bahamas could have been avoided if Harris took Nabi advice on time with the chartered flight from Trinidad. Once again Harris has put Dominica in another ditched and people fail to address the matter.
These athletes need to protest, that is pure rubbish excuse coming from Harris. In this day and age you want these young athletes to make a name for themselves and Dominica.You have them missing out on countless opportunities.Once is a mistake,twice is a habit. It was your point of duty to call Liat atleast four days in advance to make sure everything is set.We Dominicans are fed up with that.Here goes our hope of seeing atleast 10 athletes representing Dominica in the next Olympics.”Mooshay” Harris still have guts to sayit’s not a big deal. Is that how a Coach suppose to respond. You need to resign.
The parents and athletes should stage a silent protest (peaceful) outside his office and Ministry of Sports. Make some decent placards demanding his removal. Both parents and athletes put in time and effort for this trip. Totally unacceptable.
does nothing in this country work NORMAL why is everything a daybar this country full of adult,grown,children not man,they think to be a man you have to run women and talk loud ,,,,,no no no ,,it is simple to be a man all you have to do is take care off things in a mature way GROW UP
The president taking out the shame in his eyes by stating this is the Secretary job and claiming that Nabi is disgruntled. Man accept you slipped up again. I applaud Mr. Wallace for being a voice that speak out in the interest of the athletes. If was not for him this matter would just have slipped under the table….no body see no body tell why the athletes are left hurting.
Is it a power struggle? Even in a little association? We can do better than this in Dominica. Let’s not be crabs in a barrel.
Disgruntled or not, this is nonsense an shows GROSS incompetence. He must be held accountable…typical attitude with Dominicans always finding excuse for their incompetence. Just look at our state of affairs? Sadly, we the people continue to accept and even glorify incompetence in Dca.
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
This is totally unacceptable. The authority that governs this board should call an urgent meeting and hold all accountable so that such mistakes can be avoided in the future. Both the coach and President have failed our children. They should have both contacted LIAT and see to it that the flight was confirmed from departure to destination round trip. Stop pointing fingers, you have both failed!
Mr. Harris was the one doing the transaction he did not ask for help, I took it on myself to go to town to find out what was happening as the information was not forth coming from Harris 2 days before travel. Questions we put forward to Harris as all were in need of information so they could prepare. On Tuesday 25th from 7am I have been calling Harris who never answered my calls. If you in class ask for help you can’t leave your class. Then to send me an Itinerary that does not show the information of the travel, I call him in the night and told him that there was not information on the message he send me. He said he would have sent it again he never did. , , I have nothing against you even if you have been trying to bring me down in the outer world by send the un edited minutes of the DAAA AGM TO THE IAAF AND RDC, YOU WILL HURT YOURSELF.
What a shame!!!! I remember when people served because they were sincerely and genuenely interested in the atheletes and the improving the games. Today it a differently story. These atheletes in Dominica are being murdered by those who have another agenda.
mr harris no tickets were purchased for travel on liat for the athletes. you know that the athletes and thier parents who were at the airport knows that. stop trying to make liat your scape goat. you guys drop the ball and just admit and accept that.
Knowing Nabi those rediculous mistakes would not happen. By the In a real country ( according to Skerrit) harris would have been fired. Verification of flight info , itineraries etc should have been done days before. What a shame. It is too much to now claim ths t Nabi is making too much out of this.
The Blame Game is on!!
This is so pathetic … on all levels!
When one books his or her or group tickets, you get an Itinerary, did he not read his own to know that is from Trinidad that they are booked and not from Dominica. Stupid excuse Harris.
This is sad and very unprofessional – come on Dominica, step up, we are in the 21st Century! We were already doing better than that back in the 70s!
Look tings in a likkle DA..I know the guy to the left on the picture..We went to the same school..Not saying more about him….BUT LIAT!!..Well well, we all know how unreliable they can be!!I don’t need to say more…To many peoples have suffered under them!!..Full stop!!
Mr Harris with all due respect to you ….. Since when the secretary does not pull his weight? Do you take any advise from anyone especially those who were there before you and knew the ropes? I fail to believe that a flt was booked from Trinidad to Curacao but was mistakenly NOT booked from Dominica to Trinidad by the very same airline LIAT which would obviously be the first leg of the process. Why do you keep making excuses and not accepting your wrongs? You NEEDS to step down. Please come better than that
did you prove that his explainantion was not true???
It was an error by LIAT so if he had to speak out on anything, it would have to be about LIAT.
Since he has so much to say about the president then he should go run for the post. Apparently he did not choose to do so, so therefore he should cut the bull that he is talking.
BB You need to get a “BB-BETTER BRAIN”..So you mean the president cannot follow up on the flights and so on..Thats unacceptable.He talking about he passed on information to LIAT..to show to flam and he want to get paid #heneedtobefired! that really grind my gears
I have a problem with people who try to use the media to try sort out everything that is going wrong. We see it with politicians, we see it with unions and employers, we see it with sports organisations like Olympic Committee, DFA, etc.
If Nabi finds that too often the athletes suffer because of slipshod work from the Athletics Association, all he has to do is call a meeting with athletes and the association to air out their grievances with a view to rectification. Running to the media and calling for vote of no confidence is so high handed it’s not funny.
Already the athletes are hard pressed to get sufficient exposure and proper training facilities, they don’t need the coash and the association President being at loggerheads with each other.
Use wisdom in dealing with such matters to the benefit of all concerned.
While you strike a very good point Programmer this is a National issue so it is a matter of public interest. The name clearly states the Dominica Amateur Athletics Association (DAAA) not owned or govern by any individual. Therefore it is the right of the public to be informed of those who have been elected to serve inability to do the job. After this is shared publicly the powers that be can now pull themselves together and move a vote of no confidence to effect change. Nabi is in no position to just call athletes together for a meeting on his own. There is a protocol which must be followed of which the nation has the right to make an input.
this is why nabi wallace is a better coach… if he was in office these “mistakes” would not have occurred! it is time for the board of management to come to their senses that nabi wallace should be in charge of this.. he is better at organizing and doing things around that field. thats all i have to say.
this is not a ‘field’ job, it’s an organizational job, that is made up of members. Not having fully committed members and the president having to do everything is a problem. Nabi is disgruntled.
Many competitions occur and athletes travel regularly, I don’t hear him lauding the DAAA at those times.
Pure Nonsense… you people never see when he’s applauding anyone… you only see when he is disgruntled. Why can we as a Country put our differences aside and have an open mind … and seriously tell if its the best thing to have a man making mistakes so often and to leave him there like he is doing a great job… SMDH with you people
This was not Nabi’s fault He has every right to be disgruntled .Wouldnt you?
What has this got to do with any possible personal issues between the coach and the manager? I don’t want to call Mr. Harris President because that sounds so grand it is almost ridiculous in our little country. Too many egos and to little proper management.