Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 02, 2013 Sports
Guyana’s Team (12 male 1 female) left these shores a confident unit to contest the 7th Caribbean and 14th Pan American Powerlifting Championships in Orlando Florida, Miami from tomorrow, the team left yesterday.
Individual as well as team honours will be the quest of the Guyanese who have been doing excellent at this level for the past few years.
The lone female, Kimberley Mars-Loncke (2012 Caribbean silver medalist) seeks to go one step further than Lindener Dawn Barker in becoming Guyana’s second Caribbean and first ever female Pan American Champion.
The Men’s Team assault will be spearheaded by World Masters Champion Winston ‘Little Master’ Stoby with the likes of Randolph ‘The Accomplisher’ Morgan (2012 World Deadlift champion), ‘Big’ John Edwards (2011 World Masters bronze medalist), Vijai Rahim (2012 Caribbean double gold and South American silver medalist), Anis Ade-Thomas (2012 Caribbean gold medalist and Junior best lifter overall), Paul Adams and Mars (2012 Caribbean silver medalists) along with promising lifters Gumendra and Suraj Shewdas, Fabian Ketwaroo and Lindener Colin ‘Mr. Clean’ Chesney who is seeking to break his international jinx.
In a release from the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) it was stated that despite a timely and welcome infusion of funds from the Office of the President through the direct intervention of President Donald Ramotar, the GAPF was dealt a low blow by designated National Flag Carrier, Caribbean Airlines (CAL) through what it has termed, “blatant, unscrupulous and price gouging tactics”.
The GAPF said that it was earlier given the assurance of sponsorship for four tickets as well as booked flights direct to Orlando.
The release continued that the Federation was shocked to receive notice from the local CAL branch (having already paid $1M in advance) that the CAL Head Office had rescinded the offer and re-routed the direct flight to Orlando with one to Miami at a fare of some supposedly subsidized US$755.00.
This move left the GAPF saddling a staggering burden of some US$2,800 in round-trip bus fares from Miami to Orlando. The enormity of the blatant rip off is seen when compared with the ticket purchased by the GAPF President from Suriname Airways (a direct flight) to Miami at the cost of US$646.00.
Further, Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony had promised to have a word with CAL.
The President of the GAPF has expressed his bitter disappointment and joins the growing chorus of public calls condemning the callousness and arrogant stance of the designated flag carrier with their deceitful approach towards handling the Guyanese Market.
The team departed with a shortfall of some USD $3,000 due to the unexpected diverting of funds towards the shuttle service.
The Team will hope to bridge this shortfall based largely on the support of the Guyanese community based in Orlando to accomplish their mission.
While in Orlando at the Congress, GAPF President Peter Green is hoping to convince the South American and North American blocs to grant Guyana the hosting rights to the 2015 Pan American and South American as well as the Caribbean Championships as they make their contribution to sports tourism and eliminate the need to depend on airlines enjoying a monopoly.
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
Apr 18, 2024
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