Cycling Club laments having to pay Police for road races

The executives of the Flying Ace Cycling Club (FACC) are lamenting that they are now required to pay the Police a sum of money to run off cycle road races.
FACC Coach Randolph Roberts has expressed disappointment over a decision by the Guyana Police Force B Division which will now see his Club paying for the services offered by the Police there whenever it stages its cycling meets.
According to Roberts, he was required to pay the Police a total of $15,000 to stage a road race recently. Roberts, who continues to work voluntarily to develop the sport of cycling, exclaimed that this was the first time he has ever paid the Force for its services rendered on race day.
“I worked with all the Commanders in this Division and I have never had such a situation.  I had a discussion with the Commander and I told him that we are not holding a gate to collect any money, so that we could get money to pay back the Police. I go out there and deal with the business community so that we could get these youngsters off the street and involved in something that is worthwhile for their lives. I cannot afford to pay the Police $15,000 whenever I have a race,” Roberts said, adding that the first prize for many races did not reach the $15,000 level.
Sponsor of the said race, Franco Crawford is in disagreement with the charge of $15,000 to run off a non-profitable cycle race.
“I am surprised that the Police Force which is meant to protect, is now charging $15,000 just to host a bike event. I think that is not good because when they start doing this and we don’t have enough money to give to the cyclists to encourage them and for them to purchases chains and tyres for their training and for their racing and then we have to pay the Police then we may not be able to sponsor any event or to have any event if we had to pay the Police.”
In an invited comment, Divisional Commander Assistant Commissioner Lyndon Alves said it was a policy of the Force to be paid for its services. The Commander added that he apologised that it was not done nor told to the Cycling Club in the past, but it was a requirement that the Club pays.