CARIFTA team returns to warm welcome

The Eugene F Correia Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD), buzzed with excitement and smiling faces in the arrivals area on Monday afternoon as part of Guyana’s CARIFTA Games 2026 contingent returned to local shores.
This is on the heels of the participation in the 2026 CARIFTA Games in St George’s, Grenada, over the Easter weekend.
Team Guyana ended this year’s games with six medals, inclusive of a record-high four gold medals, to place fifth overall at the Regional Track and Field showpiece.
During the reception on Tuesday afternoon, Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle praised this achievement, promising an even grander celebration once the entire team arrives.
A smiling Ninvalle proudly shared, “In the recent history of the CARIFTA Games, we have never done better than winning four gold medals at those games. So, with such a small contingent, we’ve been able to do that, and it tells a lot about the leadership that you have at the Athletics Association of Guyana.”

“This is a small welcome home that we’re having. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and National Sports Commission, as I’ve been directed by my Minister Steven Jacobs, will be hosting you guys when the entire team comes back. So, this is just a small way of saying welcome back and saying that we are proud of you. We would want you to continue in that vein, and likewise, we would want to continue in the vein of supporting you to make sure that you can reach your full potential. Guyana is proud of you,” the Director of Sport went on to assure.
Also on hand were NSC Commissioner Cristy Campbell and Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) President Sheryl Hermonstine, who both expressed pride in the athlete’s performances.
“We’re happy; you’ve made us proud. 28 countries, Guyana with a 24-man team and bringing up fifth in the competition – it’s a lot, the AAG President, Hermonstine, expressed.
On the other hand, Campbell stated, “We are quite pleased and proud of your performance, and I think the entire country celebrates your success. It’s been quite pleasurable to witness all of the passion and grit that you’ve all demonstrated throughout the Easter weekend games in Grenada.”
“We’re proud of you, and our support, as I mentioned earlier, remains, and we’ll continue to work with you to further develop your talent,” Campbell further noted.
In addition to the four gold medals, Team Guyana also copped one silver and one bronze at the CARIFTA games.