Minister Jacobs, national athletes explore mentorship programme possibilities

Minister within the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry Steven Jacobs, recently held a productive meeting with several current and former national athletes, addressing a wide range of topics.
In a social media post this week, the new Minister shared that athlete welfare, mentorship, and the future of sports in Guyana were key points of discussion during the meeting, which was held at the Ministry’s Main Street, Georgetown, boardroom.

Among the athletes in attendance were former Guyana and West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, former Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) Championship-winning Captain Leon Johnson, two-time Table Tennis Olympian Chelsea Edghill, former Golden Jaguars Captain turned Coach Charles Pollard, former Golden Jaguars striker Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson, former distance runner Cleveland Forde, National Squash Player Ashley Khalil, former Green Machine (Rugby) Captain turned Coach Theodore Henry, National Basketballer Keane Andrews, former Mr. Guyana (Bodybuilding) Kerwin Clarke, Cyclist Geron Williams, and former National Basketballer Stephon Gillis, along with Assistant Director of Sport (ADoS) Franklin Wilson.
The meeting reportedly explored how these highly experienced athletes can contribute to a mentorship programme led by the Ministry, share their experiences, and exchange ideas on how to collectively move sports forward.

“These engagements are just as important as our meetings with sporting associations because, as we build world-class facilities, strengthen our sports product, and expand into sports tourism, we must also invest in our most valuable resource – our people,” Jacobs wrote in his social media post.
The post also revealed that discussions included ways to create career pathways for former athletes in coaching and training – as outlined in the governing party’s manifesto – and highlighted the importance of integrating sports and education.
Minister Jacobs added:
“I’m especially pleased that every athlete present committed to being part of this process. Many expressed how grateful they were to be included and to contribute once again to shaping the future of sports in Guyana. Their experience and passion remain invaluable, and together, we will continue building a stronger, more sustainable sporting landscape for generations to come.”