Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
THE FIFTH regional volleyball tournament for junior males starts in Aruba today without Jamaica in its line-up.
The Jamaica Volleyball Association (JAVA) failed to secure visas for the 12 players, two officials and one referee, who were scheduled to make the trip.
The young players, who have been preparing for the tournament since March, received the shocking piece of news on Saturday while making final preparations to depart the island yesterday.
JAVA president Carole Beckford said the Association did what was necessary to secure the visas only to be stumped by Aruba.
Beckford said that on the advice of the tournament's organisers, JAVA applied for a waiver of visa requirements for its 12 players, two officials and one referee but were notified on Friday that the request was not granted.
"We went there in 2001 (World Championships qualifiers) and never required visas," said Beckford. "We knew of the requirement and we asked for a waiver so as to allow the group to travel but we never got it."
The JAVA president said after the request was denied it was too late to take the passports to Cuba in order to apply for visas to enter Aruba.
Despite the disappointment of not having the young males at the tournament, Beckford said she does not expect it to adversely affect the local programme.
"It was something we were looking to but not going there should not throw us off," she said.
Jamaica has two other overseas assignments before year-end with the Riddim Girls' World Championship second round qualifiers in the Dominican Republic topping the list.
The female junior team is scheduled to participate in the Caribbean Championships in Trinidad and Tobago between July 19-25.
