Embassy taking care of Guyanese boxers stranded in Cuba – DoS

…some $1.9M spent on their well-being

Over the weekend, reports from the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) surfaced with claims that the four Guyanese boxers stranded in Cuba were quite frustrated with their situation and the treatment being meted out to them in the Spanish-speaking island.

During an interview with Guyana Times Sport on Monday, Director of Sport (DoS), Christopher Jones said that the reports came as a “shock” to him, since he had contrasting knowledge on the situation.
The four boxers – Colin Lewis, Keevin Allicock, Dennis Thomas, and Desmond Amsterdam, through their team leader Lewis, communicated to local media that they were at a breaking point, having now been in Cuba for over five months. Their main areas of concern were their mental health, irregular meal patterns, and simple homesickness.
“I saw the release and heard and read, in terms of what was pronounced by Mr Steve Ninvalle and I noted the use of the word deteriorate. Again, the boxers are in the care of the Guyana Cuban Embassy. The Ambassador and all the staff of the Embassy there in Cuba have been taking care of these guys,” he went on to explain to this publication.
Jones added that the National Sports Commission, through the Finance Ministry, has been tasked with footing the Cuban bill, which, up to last month, was some $1.9 million.
Speaking on the issue of the boxers’ accommodation, he noted that the villa in which they are being housed, in Havana, was the same one that was usually used by Government officials when visiting the country.
“What persons have to be cognisant of is that outside of the current lockdown in Cuba, like the rest of the world is in, Cuba is a country that has sanctions imposed on them from the United States and other places, so, therefore, basic food commodities that could be had in other countries is not readily available in Cuba. This was explained at length to these boxers,” Jones said, in an attempt to explain why the variety of food may be limited in Cuba.
“I have all four of them on voice note, which they sent me, indicating that they understand; they know the situation they’re in and they’re looking forward for June 3rd, when the airports will be reopened and they’ll have an opportunity to head back home.”
In addition, Jones shared that Guyanese Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed caught wind of the allegations and was as troubled as he about the boxers’ claims.
Holding firm on his position, Jones shared that documents on the boxers’ stay in Cuba, along with photos, were being complied and he would share these with the media if possible. The DoS also noted that care packages, along with food items, were sent to the boxers this month.
Over the weekend, GBA President Steve Ninvalle said that the four pugilists were barely coping, having to contend with a lack of food supplies, little to no resources, no money, and their unfamiliarity with the island’s language, Spanish.
The boxers had initially travelled to Cuba in January with the objective to train in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualifiers which were supposed to be hosted in Argentina in March. However, with the spread of the coronavirus, the event was cancelled and before the boxers could return home, Guyana’s ports were closed. (Jemima Holmes)