Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 15, 2011 Sports
Dear Editor,
On June 3rd Ian Jackson, one of Guyana’s top riders, was scheduled to fly out from CJI airport to represent Guyana at the 13th World Deaf Championships in Mont Tremblant, Canada, June 10 – 15.
It was a rare opportunity for a Deaf athlete to represent Guyana at an international Deaf event, thereby putting Deaf sport on the map for Guyana. It would have been a proud moment for Ian, a proud moment for Guyana’s Deaf community, a proud moment for the Flying Stars Cycle Club where Ian was nurtured and trained.
Alas, none of this was to be, because Ian and his sign language interpreter/manager were denied visas by the Canadian High Commission in Trinidad. That same afternoon, May 31, we dispatched a letter to the High Commissioner in Guyana, expressing our utmost consternation at this decision.
We also immediately got in touch with the organizers in Canada – who shared our disbelief that this was something other than a mistake and they also emailed the High Commissioner. This email was also forwarded to The Canada Immigration Department in Trinidad the following day.
Ian Jackson’s participation was supported by the Guyana Olympic Association, the Guyana Cycling Federation and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; it was sponsored by Caribbean Airlines, the sports fraternity and the business community. Deaf in Guyana (DiG) was the organiser.
We had scheduled for Ian to be in Canada one week prior to the event so that he could have acclimatized himself. His departure could have been postponed for a couple of days.
That means there was time for Canada Immigration officials in Trinidad to review their decision based on our appeal and the appeal of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, even to seek more information. This did not happen.
For Ian this must feel like a slap in the face after months of intensive and arduous training, for the Deaf community it is a des-incentive to strive for excellence and for recognition by the wider community.
DiG is grateful for the support for Ian from so many quarters, leading up to his expected departure; we are sad that we won’t be able to roll out the red carpet for him on his return; and there will be other opportunities, we know – but it is frustrating that we were robbed of this one.
We sincerely hope that at the next similar instance Canada will act as facilitator not as a ‘brick wall’ for Deaf athletes.
Sabine McIntosh
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