HAVING successfully hosted the 10th International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) Pan American karate championships in September, the Guyana Karate College (GKC) yesterday turned the sod for their permanent residence at the proposed site located at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. According to GKC’s vice-president Andrew De Abreu and acting Chief Instructor Jeffrey Wong, the sod turning was the first phase towards realising their permanent edifice, both making the statement after Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony had turned the sod where the facility is expected to be built.
The GKC will start constructing the fence around the one-acre plot of land just off the Railway Embankment at Liliendaal very soon.
According to De Abreu and Wong, the construction of the dojo will start at a later date since the executive body of the GKC, which houses over 100 students at the Malteenoes Sports Club, is presently deliberating on which company to select, with bids being screened to see which company’s bid falls within range of the GKC’s budget.
The estimated cost to build the dojo is $50 million after it was first estimated that it would have cost $80 million, with the executive body projecting a two-year span for completion of the building but they are also “hoping with some luck from some more corporate bodies” it will be completed in a year.
Already, the GKC has realised over $8M since acquiring the 99-year lease from the government in late 2008. Chief Instructor Master Frank Woon-A-Tai stated there were some stipulations outlined by the Government at the handing-over of the lease, one being the evidence of finance to start the project.
According to Woon-A-Tai, “The President (Bharrat Jagdeo) has given us a piece of land at Liliendaal but it was conditional that we could show evidence that we could begin the project rather than just have the land sitting there doing nothing.
“It took us a year and some months since I got the official letter from Lands and Surveys that the land is available to us but we have to show evidence of financing”
Woon-A-Tai, who submitted his final paper for his Eighth Dan last year, had also noted that the GKC’s present collateral amount will be sufficient to complete the preliminary sub-structure, fencing and foundation, with the GKC alumni planning to help the college financially.
There are also plans to involve the Japanese Government with Master Okazaki spearheading that drive.
Further, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Japanese Grass Roots have also pledged support once they are satisfied that the GKC, who has been a pioneer in martial arts since 1968, is making the necessary effort to help itself to get the project started.
Yesterday, Dr Anthony said the GKC is “charting a new territory” and he is confident that the body will be successful in its drive to get the project off the ground and continue its drive to develop karate in Guyana.
Further, Dr Anthony pointed out also that another way the venture will be successful is if the corporate bodies and the people become involved, at which point he made a plea to all stakeholders to come on board and assist the GKC.
According to Dr Anthony, “The Government will continue to play a facilitating role to ensure there are proper facilities for sports. More importantly, accountability must be a hallmark of associations and the GKC has always been one of the bodies that showed this transparency in its operations.”
Health-wise, Dr Anthony encouraged persons to join the college when it is completed especially since in the minister’s estimation many of the citizens have inculcated some unhealthy practices while indicating that sport helps to improve cognitive development.
In his brief remarks, Master Woon-A-Tai said that with the building of the dojo it is an achievement for karate and the GKC. Karate is not just a sport, but it is a vehicle for character development while giving them basic self-defence techniques. (Calvin Roberts)