‘An all-round sportsperson of the highest quality’- DoS Ninvalle pays tribute to Skeete

As Guyana’s sporting fraternity continues to mourn the passing of former national athlete and FIFA referee Maurees Skeete, Director of Sport at the National Sports Commission (NSC), Steve Ninvalle, on behalf of the NSC and government of Guyana, extended heartfelt condolences and highlighted her immense contribution to sport.

Skeete passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, leaving behind a legacy defined by excellence, discipline, and service to country.

In expressing his condolences, Ninvalle described Skeete as one of Guyana’s most outstanding sports officials and all-round athletes, noting that her impact was felt across multiple sporting disciplines.

“Maurees Skeete was a name that consistently stood out in our sporting landscape,” Ninvalle said.

“Her work as a referee earned her nominations on several occasions in the Sports Official category at the National Sports Awards, which speaks volumes about the respect she commanded and the standard she maintained throughout her career.”

Ninvalle emphasised that while Skeete possessed remarkable versatility as an athlete, it was in football officiating that she truly reached the pinnacle of her talent.

“She was an all-round sportsperson of the highest quality, but her excellence as a football referee took her to the very top. Achieving FIFA accreditation and earning regional recognition placed her among the best to ever represent Guyana in that capacity,” he added.

A proud member of the Guyana Defence Force, Skeete served as a Warrant Officer Class Two, seamlessly carrying the values of discipline, integrity, and commitment from military life onto the sporting field.

Just last October, the GDF publicly recognised and honoured her bravery in her fight against breast cancer.

Skeete became a FIFA-accredited international referee in 2014, remaining on the FIFA list for several years.

She also captured multiple Guyana Football Federation Referee of the Year awards, underlining her dominance and consistency at the local level.

Regionally, her quality did not go unnoticed.

In 2015, she was nominated for the CONCACAF Female Referee of the Year Award, becoming the only female official from the Caribbean to receive that nomination in that year.

Her officiating portfolio included major CFU and CONCACAF women’s tournaments, as well as high-profile local men’s competitions such as the Kashif and Shanghai tournament and the Elite League.

Committed to development, Skeete actively participated in initiatives such as the FIFA Referees Assistance Programme (RAP), always seeking to improve herself while contributing to the advancement of officiating standards in Guyana.

Before her rise in refereeing, Skeete had already established herself as a gifted athlete.

She represented Guyana as a national rugby player, earning selection to the women’s sevens squad in 2010 to defend their RAN Championship title, and also featured in national basketball tryouts, showcasing her exceptional all-round sporting ability.

Ninvalle noted that Skeete’s journey will continue to inspire future generations, particularly young women aspiring to excel in sport, both on and off the field.