Daren Ganga has got leave from his employer, state-owned Petrotrin, to lead the national cricket team for the Champions League Series in India, which starts on October 4.It took a phone call from Energy Minister, Conrad Enill, to get the approval, the Trinidad Guardian reported Sunday.
Chaguanas West MP, Jack Warner, complained on Saturday that it was a shame that the Trinidad and Tobago captain was denied leave to play in the championships.
"I still can’t believe in this day and age, people are still being refused time off to represent our country, particularly by a state own company. Petrotrin should be ashamed,” Warner said in a media release.
Read the story: Warner demands leave for Ganga to play in India
"Petrotrin’s decision and refusal to give time off to Ganga, a national player who has served the country with distinction for such a long time is one of the most disgraceful, unpatriotic acts this country has ever seen and it is to Minister Enill’s credit he responded the way he did," Warner told the Guardian in response to Enill's intervention.
According to the Guardian, the minister has instructed the company to find a way to ensure Ganga is on the flight to Guyana on Friday for a two-match warm up series, before leaving for India on October 4.
Ganga is a community relations officer with Petrotrin. He had written the national and regional cricketing bodies to advise that his employer had refused his request for leave to play in India.
The refusal was in the form of a letter dated September 17, signed by Arnold Corneal, Petrotrin’s Corporate Communications manager.
"Our records have shown you have received a total of 37 working days to go on national duties for 2009. As communicated to you prior to May 21, 2008, November 20, 2008 and January 5, 2009, leave for national service shall be granted up to a maximum of one month per annum with pay for the duration of such representation," the letter stated.
Warner had asked if Ganga was being victimised, noting that he had information that Ganga was forced to use his annual vacation and sick leave to represent the country.
"Imagine that. Using your annual leave and sick leave to go on national duty, this is absolutely ridiculous," Warner said.
And he said it is time for a national policy on this matter of leave to represent the country. "It is fine for the minister to intervene and for Daren to go on this tour. But what happens after he returns...what happens to another sportsman or sportswoman in his situation? Are they going to face the same difficulties?" Warner asked.
Ganga told the Guardian he has not been told of Enill’s intervention. However he said, “If that is the case, I am very grateful to both him and Mr Warner."
No comments:
Post a Comment