McKinnon elected GSSF president

– Outgoing president highlights frustrating challenges

The fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF), was held at the Grand Costal Hotel on Friday February 16, 2018. Members were given the opportunity to discuss the activities and plans.
Outgoing President, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon reflected on her reign in her address to the membership “In 2014 I stood here amongst you to thank you for entrusting me to assume the Presidency of what promised to be a ground-breaking progressive sporting entity: The Guyana Sport Shooting Federation. And here I am now expressing my gratitude to all of you for making the past four years absolutely phenomenal. Since 2014, we’ve faced our fair share of challenges, and come

through them stronger and even more ground-breaking for Guyana. That is because we have never let go of a belief that has guided us ever since our founding — our conviction that, together, we can change sport shooting and the concept of sport shooting in this country and take it to a whole new higher level.”
A short presentation was then made by Director of Sport, Christopher Jones on behalf of the GSSF to several junior and adult members. This presentation was to distribute several free membership cards to the Amateur Trapshooting Association, an international affiliate of the GSSF.
The activities of a local GSSF affiliate, Archery Guyana, was also reported on. It was reported that Guyana’s Archery Developmental plan which was completed in 2017 was shared with the World Archery Federation, and this enabled Guyana to be shortlisted as eligible to receive “Level 1” equipment donations from the world governing body for the sport of Archery. Archery Guyana is in the process of finalizing the equipment selection and it is hoped that the processing for the kit to be sent to Guyana will occur in early 2018.
It was noted that it continues to be extremely disappointing that a request for affiliation made to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) since 2014 for the Olympic sport of Archery is still pending. Despite numerous reminders and attempts over the past years to engage the GOA, together with facilitating the provision of documentation directly from the sport’s Swiss based governing body the World Archery Federation reconfirming Guyana’s position as a legitimate affiliate there has been no positive response to the affiliation request.
Persaud-McKinnon also stated that information received from several key and supportive personalities in the national sports administrative circle pointed out that there were many concerns raised about the name of the GSSF and this was the hinderance to the affiliation to the local National Olympic Committee (NOC) which is the GOA.
As such the local archers nevertheless took steps to once again start over the process for affiliation to the NOC, to move the sport forward in Guyana. This effort saw the establishment of an independent entity, duly registered as “Archery Guyana” which then made a fresh application/request for membership and affiliation to the GOA, but alas the silence continues to be deafening from the decision makers at the GOA.
A silence which continues to stifle further development in Guyana, as it relates to one of the first Olympic sports (Archery) for which Guyana is known to be teeming with talent.
The evening, also featured the presentation of an Appreciation Award which was bestowed to Ryan McKinnon who received the GSSF’s Annual Appreciation Award from Director of Sport, Christopher Jones.
Another significant aspect of the AGM was the motions which totaled six which were unanimously carried. One of which generated a lot of discussion related to the GSSF’s name change. The motion was duly passed to effect a change in the name, from Guyana Sport Shooting Federation Inc., to Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation Inc.
The Returning Officer appointed, Christopher Jones, duly declared the board and positions therein vacant and commenced elections for a new Board of Directors of the GSSF.
Following the transparent electoral process, the members listed below were duly elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation for the term 2018 to 2020 as announced and ratified by the Returning Officer, Jones. Members of the Board of Directors for the period 2018-2020 are: President Ryan McKinnon, Vice-President Mohamed Khan, Secretary Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, Treasurer Ray Beharry, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer Andrew Phang, Chairman (Steel Challenge) Dr. Pravesh Harry, Chairman (Practical Shooting) David Dharry, Chairman (Archery) Nicholas Hing, Chairman (Trapshooting) Aleemul Ali and Internal Auditor Steve Ninvalle.