what the ministry of sports really good for?http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=161048264"I HAVE a world title that is now of no use to me," said Ria Ramnarine, just before dropped her Women's International Boxing Association (WIBA) mini-flyweight (105 pound) belt into a garbage can.
Yesterday, the 28-year-old Chaguanas boxer announced that she had relinquished her world title belt, accusing Government, the media and boxing officials of discriminating against her, since winning her world title a year ago with a controversial victory over American Yvonne Caples.
"Finally, you have succeeded," Ramnarine declared to her critics.
"I quit!!"
However, she quickly added that athough relinquishing the world title, she will still remain active in the sport and may also resume her kick-boxing career as well.
At yesterday's press conference, held at Flex Appeal Gym, Independence Square, Port of Spain Ramnarine was especially critical of the Ministry of Sport, which she felt had not given her enough assistance.
She said it was very difficult to understand how other boxers and promoters get in the vicinity of hundred of thousands of dollars at the snap of their fingers, whereas she had to beg and plead from months before for a little assistance from the Ministry.
"Mr Roger Boynes, our honourable Minister of Sport, has blatantly refused to meet me on every occasion, but he always has time for everyone else including born-again Trinidadians who conveniently came back home only after I won my world title," she declared.
Ramnarine, T&T's first female world champion, feels that many in Trinidad and Tobago are not pleased with her winning a world championship and she is aggrieved that she has not been given the type of financial assistance she expected.
She said having given up a good paying job at National Flour Mills (NFM) as a process plant operator to pursue her boxing career, she was now unemployed.
"To become that champion, I painfully worked my way up the rankings and made all the necessary sacrifices. I gave up my social life, I gave up my career as a process plant operator, I gave up furthering my education and I spent many long hours in the gym, day after day, month after month, year after year.
"When I finally fought for a world title, most of the financial burden was borne by my coach and I. We always thought that when I won the title most of the financial struggle would be over."
Instead, Ramnarine said after a year and a half of being run around, she was informed by the Sport Company of Trinidad & Tobago (SPORTT) that she did not qualify under its elite athlete programme.
Ramnarine further added that after a year, three meetings and many promises, she is still waiting for $12,000 promised by the Ministry of Community Development, Culture & Gender Affairs.
"As a world champion, I did not ask for much from the Government. I didn't ask for a house, piece of land or a car as most people do. I simply asked for a stipend to assist with my training expenses."
Another Ramnarine grievance is not winning the First Citizens 2005 Sportswoman of the Year title, for which she was nominated.
"I am at a loss how my good friend Candice Scott, who placed eighth in a championship, was voted Sportswoman of the Year over T&T's first female world boxing champion," said Ramnarine.
In her parting salvo, a defiant Ramnarine said, regardless, no one will change the fact that she remains Trinidad and Tobago's first female boxing world champion.
