GAPLF, world athletes pay courtesy call on Ramson Jr
…Federation’s plans for athletes and general development discussed
Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr receives a token from Carlos Peterson-Griffith in the presence of GAPLF Treasurer Maxwell Denney, President Franklin Wilson and Secretary Roger Rogers, along with Oudit Seenarain and Romeo Hunter
Having taken over the administration of the sport back in March of 2023, members of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF), along with two athletes, met with Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr on Monday afternoon at the Ministry’s boardroom.
President Franklin Wilson, Secretary Roger Rogers, and Treasurer Maxwell Denny were the Executive members present along with Carlos Peterson-Griffith, who enjoyed a successful sojourn at the Annual World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships held from June 11 to June 18, 2023 in Malta.
Romeo Hunter and Dominic Tyrell also attended the meeting (virtually), the two athletes are set to represent Guyana at the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Classic & Equipped Sub Junior and Junior Powerlifting Championships to be held from August 24- September 3, 2023, in Cluj Napoca, Romania.
The meeting afforded both parties the opportunity to share their outlook for the collective development of the sport in Guyana.
Minister Ramson Jr shared the Government of Guyana’s policy on sports development, highlighting the focus on infrastructure and capacity development aimed at affording athletes the best opportunity for development and success.
He assured the Federation that where an athlete has the potential and likelihood of succeeding at a competition, the Ministry will support it within its resource availability. It was acknowledged that the cost of participation is on the higher end of the scale, and this is a constraint for which much work is needed to overcome.
The Ministry has pledged to work with GAPLF with a view to acquiring equipment for competition and training purposes.
Federation President Wilson briefed Minister Ramson Jr on activities for this year, including the novice and Intermediate competitions, which have already been completed, as well as plans for the annual FESUPO Regional Powerlifting Championships slated for September 6-10, 2023 in Lima, Peru; and World Juniors and IPF World Classic & Equipped Masters Powerlifting Championships from October 8-15, 2023 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia where three athletes – Nadina Taharally, Roger Rogers, and Gordon Spencer –will attend.
The Federation assured the Minister that its vision prioritises the principles of good governance and aims to make the body a model Federation.
Also, the Federation noted that it would always aim to have the broadest eligible representation at all times to ensure the best athletes are representing Guyana.
Peterson-Griffith brought Minister Ramson Jr up to date with his exploits at the Annual World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships in Malta, where he landed a silver medal in the deadlift and a bronze in the squat. He also ended sixth in the 93kg class, which attracted some 38 lifters.
This competition was the biggest in IPF history, with a total of 65 member nations taking part and over 400 lifters, 37 referees, and 257 other officials, it was the largest and most diverse participation in any Open Classic World Championship ever.
