REGIONAL boxing officials yesterday paid a courtesy call on Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony at his Main and Quamina Streets office.
The regional boxers from St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica, who are here for a four-nation goodwill tournament which commenced last evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, were all welcomed to the Land of Many Waters by Minister Anthony and president of the Guyana Boxing Association Steve Ninvalle, who is also the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.In welcoming the three foreign contingent, Ninvalle said Dr Anthony is a strong supporter of boxing, more importantly amateur, and this is the reason the Guyana Boxing Association arranged for him to meet the visiting boxers.
According to Ninvalle this Goodwill tournament is the first step being undertaken by the GBA to resuscitate the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Championships.
Guyana had dominated the Caribbean Championships when it was an annual event over 18 years ago.
Ninvalle said together with his Caribbean counterparts who are here, he will sit and discuss how they can move the sport forward in the Region.
Minister Anthony in brief remarks said Guyana is very pleased to host the Goodwill tournament and reminded that Guyana has a long tradition of producing top amateur boxers.
The Minister stated that over the past two years his Ministry has been trying to revive the sport, hence the introduction of the Friday Night Fights card.
Dr Anthony noted in this regard the Ministry has been working assiduously to rehabilitate boxing gyms around the country.
Dr Anthony said that across the Caribbean Region much is not happening to develop amateur boxing and he is therefore pleased to know that Guyana is hosting this tournament as it will only improve the sport in the Region.
The Minister said he envisages that in the near future a training facility will be set up here in Guyana for Regional countries to send their boxers to train.
He called on those executives from the various participating countries to explore the possibility of setting up such a facility.
Dr Anthony welcomed the visitors and expressed the hope that it will not be their first and last visit to Guyana.
Written By Michael DaSilva