AT around 14:20hrs the private jet belonging to Mr Jean Todt, president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), will touch down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), as part of Todt’s visit to this part of the world.

According to Manager of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMRSC) Ryan Samaroo, the visit by Todt who will be accompanied by his vice-president Jose Abed will certainly boost the local governing body for motor sports’ recognition across the Caribbean.
The 67-year-old Todt is a French motor sport executive who had a successful career as a rally co-driver and made his reputation in motor sport management, first with Peugeot Talbot Sport, then with Scuderia Ferrari, before being appointed Chief Executive Officer of Ferrari from 2004 to 2008, while he served as FIA president since October 23, 2009.
“Just recently, the GMRSC was appointed a bona fide member of FIA and, with Mr Todt conducting tours to several Caribbean countries, he saw it fit to accept our invitation to visit Guyana, wherein he will be holding talks with His Excellency President Donald Ramotar, Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony and Minister of Housing Irfan Ali,” said Samaroo.
He added, “The mission of Todt’s visit is to advise and assist in moving motorsport and mobility forward in Guyana and assist in implementing effective initiatives to tackle road safety. This visit is recognition of Guyana’s significant contribution to the world of motor sport, as this country has long been the centre of motor sport in the Eastern Caribbean.
Added to that, the GMRSC will be looking to make an application to the FIA, for a Level Three Certificate for the South Dakota Circuit track, which he will be visiting and doing a drive around, minutes after his arrival tomorrow (today).”
Samaroo said Barbados and Jamaica, who along with Guyana host the annual Caribbean Motor Racing Championships are currently conducting work on their tracks in order to make their application for Level Three certification and the GMRSC will be doing the same with South Dakota, on the completion of which their application would be made as they have no intentions of being left behind.
For many years the FIA has lobbied for improved legislation, infrastructure and vehicle safety technologies on an international scale and on May 11, 2011, the FIA launched its Action for Road Safety in support of the United Nations’ Decade of Action for Road Safety.
The FIA’s initiative aims to lower the alarming figures associated with global road accidents and to spread the safer motoring message and part of Todt’s visit to Guyana is to advise and assist in moving motorsport and mobility forward in Guyana and assist in implementing effective initiatives to tackle road safety.
GMRSC is holding an official dinner in honour of Mr Todt’s visit at the Cara Lodge tonight, where the aforementioned Government officials along with Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee and executive members of the GMRSC will be in attendance. Todt will depart Guyana tomorrow.