The Flying Ace Cycle Club was denied permission to hold a 10-lap race around New Amsterdam last Sunday. Several cyclists had turned up to participate; and the club’s coach, Randolph Roberts, believes this proves he is a victim of discrimination.
From left to right: Coach of the Flying Ace Cycle Club, Randolph Roberts, in company of cyclists Donavon Fraser and Nicholas Emanuel
Roberts told Guyana Times he had gone to the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam to uplift the written permission for Sunday’s race, but was told that the Commander had decided against giving permission.
Having organised cycle races in Berbice for the past 32 years, Roberts says, this has been the first occasion when the Police have opted not to permit a cycling event in Berbice.
“I think he (Commander) is victimising me because I spoke out about him asking for the club to pay the Police $15,000 to stage a sports event,” Roberts has opined.
Roberts and several other spots personalities were recently featured in the media, being up in arms after the Berbice Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Lyndon Alves, had announced that the Police would have to be paid to provide security at sports events.
Alves had told the media that this is a policy of the Guyana Police Force, and while it was never implemented, it would now be the procedure.
Several persons had voiced their concerns using various forms of media as they lashed out at the position the Police had adopted.
Roberts had said the club could not afford to pay the required $15,000, because the races were not money-making affairs, but mere events to assist in further developing sport in Berbice and keeping youths off the road.
“All the cyclists (were) trained and prepared for this event, and it is very sad to know that the cyclists put so much of effort in terms of nutrition and other things, and when race day comes there is no race because the Commander did not approve the race,” Roberts has declared.
He referred to the club as being a non-profit organization, noting that businesses donate prize money for races.
“The money is for cycle racing, and not to pay Police; and with this type of behaviour, it will kill the sport and kill the spirit of the cyclists, because they train hard,” Roberts has said.
Roberts noted that some cyclists had come to participate in Sunday’s race from as far away as Skeldon (Corriverton), 50 miles away, but had to leave disappointed because Police permission had not been granted for the race.
Sunday’s event was expected to be a warm- up race for the Buster 50-Mile in Berbice on September 2.
