Government has been accused of using the athletic achievements of Olympic boxer Clarence Hill to secure votes ahead of the upcoming general election.Last week the ruling PLP revealed in the Throne Speech its plans to erect a statue of the former heavyweight in honour of his bronze medal winning display at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada.However, with a general election looming there are those who strongly feel that Government is trying to secure votes by giving Hill the recognition many feel he is long overdue.Among those who believe Government is trying to cash in on Hill’s athletic success, albeit more than three decades following his crowning moment in Montreal, is the former southpaw’s son Jahma Gibbons.“Of course it’s political, why now?,” Gibbons said. “My father has been asking both governments most of my life for a gym and for recognition for his sport achievements, but both the UBP and the PLP did nothing.”Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney did not respond to phone calls from this newspaper by press time.In response to Government’s plans to erect a statue in his honour, Hill said the money could be better spent on securing a centrally based state-of-the-art boxing gym to help groom future boxers.“I’m not being disrespectful or unappreciative but I think securing a boxing gym would be a better option than a statue,” he said.Hill’s son agrees.“A statue isn’t going to help our struggling youths but a gym will help to guide them in the right direction,” he said. “I really think that my father should get a gym and not for himself but for our kids and young man who need guidance and structure in their life.“Boxing is great for our troubled young men as it helps them to redirect their anger and energy into something positive.”Sports Minister Blakeney told The Bermuda Sun that Government is “actively looking to identify a suitable facility that could facilitate a boxing gym”. But he stressed that Government remains “committed” to its plan to erect a statue in Hill’s honour.Gibbons has created a Facebook page (Clarence Hill Fan Page) to honour his father’s sporting legacy and also persuade Government to scrap its plans for a statue in favour of a boxing gym.“I’m trying to get as many Bermudians as possible to join this page so Government can maybe see that a gym is needed instead of a statue,” the father-of-three said.Government’s plans to erect a statue in Hill’s honour has sparked controversy because of the former boxer’s criminal record and well-publicised bout with drug addiction.Asked should his father’s troubled past have any bearing on his athletic achievements, Gibbons replied: “No.“Before you criticise my father get to know where he came from. Sometimes people make bad decisions because of circumstances and we have all made mistakes in life.“I still have my issues with him, but I’m very proud of what he has achieved in boxing and love him for who he is.”Veteran boxing trainer Allen (Forty) Rego believes Hill’s troubled past could’ve been avoided had he received proper recognition for his Olympic medal winning exploits decades ago.“Clarence won a bronze medal but people that were responsible for him and in position to do something did nothing,” he said. “When Clarence came back from away I feel he would’ve never been involved with anything negative if those responsible for him would have done the things that they should have done.“He should have been treated with respect but they didn’t even meet him at the airport.”