By Akeem Greene
A series of unfortunate events struck the majority of the Guyana-based athletes that competed at the 50th CARIFTA Track and Field Championships last weekend in Nassau, Bahamas.
What started with an intention to have the entire team of 19 athletes and five officials arrive in Nassau by April 6, two days before the competition, turned into the arrival of 16 members after the competition commenced on April 8.
Those who arrived on time due to having US visas, residing in the USA or in Jamaica, had no accredited official from Guyana present to assist them.
The News Room understands that a member of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) had to safeguard the athletes until the accredited personnel arrived.
They could not have entered the Athletes’ village until the accredited officials arrived from Guyana.
After finally leaving Guyana on April 7, varying factors, including a lack of permission for the plane to leave, meant the departure time from Cuba constantly changed, adding further frustration to parents and athletes.
They eventually arrived before noon in Nassau and headed straight to the track for the championships that commenced at 09:00 hrs.
Meanwhile, the return to Guyana was quite different; some members of the team returned to hugs, kisses, beating off Tassa drums, dancing, and great fanfare at the Cheddi Jagan Airport on Thursday afternoon.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.; Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, and Deputy Chair of the National Sports Commission, Cristy Campbel were present to greet the athletes.
Congratulating the athletes for a splendid job representing the country, the minister assured them and their parents that those frustrating experiences will be something of the past going forward.
“No one can ever be happy about what transpired there, much less coming out from the Government of Guyana.”, the Sport Minister stated.
According to Ramson Jr. associations that build relationships with the government are expected to fulfill their responsibilities and so, he revealed that there will be “policy changes” in how they deal with associations in the future.
“it is very important that when our athletes leave the country to represent Guyana and the country, they are given the best management and leadership and the opportunity to excel because when they get there, we don’t want them to have to face those challenges.
“…I have not spoken about it before because my responsibility was to see them compete and get them home safely and we have done that. What we will be doing subsequently is fulfilling on the word and commitment that our athletes will never face this situation again”, the Sport Minster expressed to a resounding applause from parents and athletes.
Furthermore, he stated that the ministry will continue to form partnerships with athletes to assess their individual needs.
Last year, Anisha Gibbons and Adriel Austin gained support from the government for their scholarships in the USA.
Guyana ended the 50th CARIFTA Track and Field Championships with eight medals – three gold, two silver, and three bronze – after three days of action at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium.
Javon Roberts stormed to gold in the U-17 800m while Trevon Hamer leaped to bronze in the U-20 Triple Jump on the final day.
The other medalists were Anisha Gibbons (Gold – U-20 Javelin), Tianna Springer (Gold -U-17 400m), Roberts (Silver – U-17 1500m), Attoya Harvey (Silver – 3000m), Ezekiel Saul (Bronze -U-17 Triple Jump) and Seon Booker (Bronze – U-20 1500m).
Last year in Jamaica, Guyana won seven medals.
