The returning athletes and officials taking a photo opportunity with Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr., DoS Steve Ninvalle, and NSC Commissioner Cristy Campbell
Guyana’s CARIFTA athletes, those who competed in the 50th edition of the Games over the past weekend, were treated to a hero’s welcome at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Thursday afternoon, upon their return to the Land of Many Waters.
A cultural presentation and cheers of family, friends and well-wishers awaited the Guyanese athletes, coaches and other officials upon their return, after facing several hurdles getting to and returning from the Games in Nassau, Bahamas. In the end it all paid off, as the athletes completed the Games with an 8-medal haul, one more than their collection from 2022.
Scenes at the CJIA when the Guyanese athletes received their hero’s welcome
In praising the athletes for their efforts over the weekend, Sport Minister Charles Ramson jr. touched on the benefit of his Ministry’s engagement with the athletes, and how it has paid dividends this time around.
“What I can say as well is we’ve seen some fruit of the investment that we’ve had from the last CARIFTA Games, because many of the athletes who’ve performed well were able to secure scholarships through Government intervention in the United States and many other countries,” Ramson Jr. shared.
He added, “So, we were able to see some dividends paying benefit to us as Guyanese, having made that investment for the first time last year; and what you’ll see if that’ll just continue to increase.”
The Minister went on to address the travel fiasco that occurred over the past few days, noting that it is not the kind of thing to be proud of. As such, he reiterated the need for Guyanese athletes to be treated well when travelling to represent the Golden Arrowhead. He bemoaned, “No one in Guyana could ever be happy about not giving the kind of care and representation and management for our athletes. No one could ever be happy about what transpired there, much less coming from the Government of Guyana. And when the Government of Guyana builds strong relationships with Associations, it is important that Associations take the leadership and fulfil the responsibilities that is expected of them.
“It is very important that when our athletes leave to represent the country, Guyana and Guyanese, that they are given the best possible leadership, management and the opportunity to excel.
Coming from the Government of Guyana to the people of the country, what I can say surely is that whatever transpired over the last few days that led us to the point of having to intervene in that kind of way, that will never occur again,” Ramson Jr. went on to assure.
Guyana ended their campaign at the Games on Monday with eight medals. Javon Roberts has the highest individual medal haul with one gold and one silver in the Boys’ U17 800M and 1500M races respectively. Anisha Gibbons picked up her third consecutive Gold in the Girls’ U20 Javelin, while Tianna Springer struck Guyana’s third Gold in the Girls’ U17 400M event. Attoya Harvey clinched silver in the Girls’ Open 3000M event, while Trevon Hamer won bronze in the U20 Boys’ Triple jump. Also in the triple jump event, Ezekiel Saul won bronze in the U17 category, while Seon Booker had bronze in the U20 1500M event.
