Pan American Kickboxing Association of TT (PKATT) president Martin McClashie has said a 12-member Trinidad and Tobago delegation will depart without a hitch on October 28, when they journey to the Pan American World Association of Kickboxing Organisation (WAKO) Senior Championships and South American WAKO Junior Championships in Santiago, Chile.
On October 17, the Ministry of Sport and Community Development issued a release that addressed "misinformation circulating on social media regarding funding for athletes' participation in the upcoming" championships in Chile, which are scheduled for October 30-November 3.
On October 15, TT Sport Martial Arts Elite Academy (Team Elite Karate), who are coached by Jimmy Winter, one of the national junior coaches scheduled to head to Chile, posted to its Facebook account requesting support for two national athletes to compete at the championships.
The post said both athletes have represented TT at the highest level and said, "We are seeking funding for hotel accommodation and competition fees."
Winter posted the same comments on his Facebook page on October 16.
On October 15, Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne picked up Winter's plight, relaying a message that purportedly came from the Team Elite Karate coach. Alleyne's public post read, "We have borrowed, begged and raised funds to purchase four tickets. But we need help for hotel and competition fees."
The hotel accommodation costs were listed as $4,100 per person, with the competition fees said to be $6,000.
The Sport Ministry's release sought to clear the air and pointed out that PKATT had sent a belated and incomplete request for funding to attend the championships.
"Contrary to public claims, neither Mr Jimmy Winter...nor his organisation submitted any request for grant funding to the ministry for this tournament. Instead, an incomplete funding application was submitted by PKATT, the recognised national governing body (NGB) for martial arts, on August 20, 2024."
The ministry's release said PKATT's request fell outside the stipulated time period, as its policy dictates that applications must be submitted three months in advance for processing.
The release said the July 2024 submission deadline was "critical" as the ministry prepared to close off its accounts for the fiscal year in preparation for the national budget.
The 2024/25 fiscal budget was presented by Finance Minister Colm Imbert on September 30.
During a Standing Finance Committee meeting of the House of Representatives on October 15, Sport and Community Development Minister Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis fielded questions from Caroni Central MP Arnold Ram, who asked if provisions were being made for the two Team Elite Karate athletes to represent TT in Chile.
"The NGB made their application late. You have to apply three months before the event in order for processing. In addition to that, we usually close to get ready to get ready for the fiscal year on July 15," Cudjoe-Lewis said.
"This budget allocation hasn't been passed yet. And if so, with all b
