Berbicians mourn the death of great sportsman and cyclist Wilbert Benjamin
Most Berbice athletes who attend the gym would have known the late Wilbert Benjamin as a most supportive individual, famous in the Ancient County for his cycling skills, but known as a very supportive individual to athletes and sporting causes in general.
Randolph Roberts and Wilbert Benjamin at a presentation ceremony
Wilbert Benjamin passed away last Tuesday morning at the Georgetown Public Hospital following his involvement in an accident on the Corentyne Public Road in East Berbice.
The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) MS, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and the Flying Ace Cycling Club (FACC), among other entities in Region Six, have expressed profound sadness at his passing, and have offered their sincerest condolences to the Benjamin family.
Mr Benjamin had been quite passionate about the development of sports, and had used a lot of his personal funds to assist many youths to fulfill their dreams. He also had allowed a lot of sportsmen to use his gym free of cost, and had been a positive mentor to many youths in his community.
“It is our sincere hope that God would comfort his family, especially his nephew Garfield Benjamin, a former national junior cricketer”, said the BCB.
Meanwhile, FACC Coach Randolph Roberts described Benjamin as a great person. Roberts, who was lost for words upon hearing of the passing, had shared a father/son type of relationship with Benjamin. A former National cyclist, Benjamin had aided in sponsoring cycling events for the FACC and other cycling events across the country.
Flashback to the good old days when Benjamin and Roberts worked together to advance sports in Guyana
Benjamin had raced to three national school titles in the 80s, and had gone on to represent Guyana at the Inter-Guianas, Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA), Pan-American and Texaco Games in his transition from junior to senior champion rider.
Aside from being champion cyclist and businessman, Benjamin had been a philanthropist who often contributed cash or kind to young riders and to the Flying Ace Cycling Club (FACC), of which he had been a member. He later opened in Fyrish, Corentyne Berbice the Benjamin Sports Store which catered to cycling and other sporting disciplines; and had been the owner of the Benjamin Fitness Gym in Fyrish, Corentyne.
