Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
SOME OF the top schools slated to compete at tomorrow's Jamaica International Invitational track and field meet are set to pull out.
The schools, from rural areas, claim the organisers have not lived up to their promises of transportation and accommodation fees over the past two years and that they can't afford the cost to attend the Kingston meet.
Paul Bailey, principal of Girls' Champs winners Holmwood Technical, said his school was struggling financially and "begging" for help but would make an effort to attend.
He said his school's $20,000 transportation claim last year was overlooked by the organisers but added: "We are going to make the sacrifice of going and hope we can get a subsidy for transportation".
"We put in a claim last year for transportation but up to now they (organisers) haven't said anything," said Bailey whose team won the 4x400m and 4x100m relays for girls over the past two years.
According to Bailey they were promised accommodation, transportation and food for this weekend's meet but the accommodation plans were cancelled yesterday.
"The school needs the money (for transportation), so any assistance will be gladly accepted," Bailey said.
On Wednesday, the National Commercial Bank (NBC) contributed US$20,000 (J$1.3 million) towards this year's staging of the Boys and Girls High School Relays at the meet.
NOTHING FOR WINNERS
Despite this figure, for the past two years, the winners of the relays have not even received medals.
Giving these problems, at least one of the island's top track schools, Manchester, has indicated it will not be a part of the evening's activities.
Earlier this week, coaches told The Gleaner they had been promised a one-night stay in Kingston but yesterday they were told they had to travel in today for accreditation and return tomorrow for the meet.
"If this is the case, we definitely won't be at the meet," Jerry Holness, coach of Manchester, said.
"I spoke to my acting principal and she told me if this is going to cost us, we wouldn't be going," he said.
Manchester were also promised reimbursement for transportation, which Holness said still had not been received.
Camperdown also voiced its concerns. The school's principal, Cynthia Cooke, said the organisers needed to help, "especially for the country schools, they need to get accommodation".
"It costs a lot for transportation, accommodation and food because we don't have these things in our budget," Cooke said.
Edwin Allen's coach, Michael Dyke, also said he didn't know if his team could afford to attend the meet.
"It's difficult right now because after Champs and Penn relays there is no money," Dyke said.
"If we (winners of the 4x400m in 2004) are going, they will have to subsidise transportation and food," he said.
When contacted, chairman of the organising committee, Howard Aris, refused to comment.
Before he was asked the question in full, Aris said he would not comment on any negative issues on the eve of the meet.
In an NCB release sent yesterday, Aris said the student athletes would benefit from the encouragement and recognition being given to them by NCB and he predicted an "evening of excellent performances".
