Organisers assure security, medical and housing arrangements well covered
THE organisers of the 50th annual Guyana Teachers Union (GTU)/Ministry of Education (MOE) National Schools Swimming, Cycling and Track and Field Championships yesterday brought to light the fact that the necessary measures have been ratified to ensure a successful hosting of the championships next week. During the briefing Pulandar Kandhi, Permanent Secretary of the MOE, stated that all arrangements regarding security, health and accommodations are in place for the athletes and this was corroborated by GTU’s president Colin Bynoe who delved further into detail.
According to Bynoe both the A and C Divisions of the Guyana Police Force will be enforcing security at the venues and he noted that since Commander of A Division, Assistant Commissioner  George Vyphuis, is familiar with the procedure and atmosphere at the event as he was on hand during the hosting of the games in Albion last year, he is confident in his ability to ensure the safety of the athletes.
Bynoe said that security will also be present at the games villages which will be set up at Tucville Nursery and Secondary schools for the female competitors and at North Ruimveldt Secondary and East Ruimveldt Secondary schools for the male competitors.
He also disclosed that a medical support team populated with medical officers will be present not only at the venues but also at the games villages to ensure that all health issues are immediately and effectively dealt with.
It was also mentioned that the Kashif and Shanghai group will be assisting with security measures to guard against the infringement of vendors at the venues as this would cheat beverage giants Banks DIH and Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), who are major sponsors and who will have concession stands set up during the event.
With regard to the indefinite situation involving the availability of the Olympic-size swimming pool for the swimming segment, Head of the Physical Education Department at the MOE, Nicholas Fraser, said that measures are in place to deal with the worst case scenario. Fraser said that the Castellani Pool on Homestretch Avenue will serve as the standby venue.