Dear Digicel Guyana,
I MUST congratulate the company for taking the initiative to sponsor the Secondary Schools Championship tournament which aims to demonstrate and showcase the talent and skills of Guyana’s youth. What is equally symbolic is the seeming, vigorous response of secondary schools throughout Guyana to participate in this championship and the support of fans, especially when their respective schools reached the quarter-finals stage.
There has been increased media coverage of the matches and following on social media as well.
What is sad and alarming though, are the glitz and glamour the finals of the championship brought and being exhibited via social media especially if one were to look at the photographs which were posted on the Facebook page of Digicel Guyana (https://www.facebook.com/digicelguy?pnref=story).
What the pictures do not tell is the number of sleepless nights that-to my knowledge-the team of the Waramadong Secondary School had to endure for almost a month. The students found themselves packed into small areas to sleep on bunk beds with no mosquito nets and with only one fan.
As many as 16 young men in one small room had to endure nights of heat and the numerous mosquitoes that Georgetown is unfortunately known for. I was made to understand that in 2013, a complaint was made to Digicel regarding this unsuitable accommodation for competitive athletes and an alternative was immediately sought, but yet in 2015 our students found themselves back in the same uncomfortable situation.

In addition, the type of meals provided unfortunately did not make it any better. If the caterers were sensitive to the cultural preferences of our people, they could have decently provided what the players would eat. Many times, I am told, they ate only because they had no choice. I mean for example, who gives athletes hotdogs for breakfast? I saw for myself what was supposed to be their dinner after the semi-final match but which I will not describe here. It was heartbreaking.
I was informed again that concern over the type of meals served to these athletes was also raised with your company. Furthermore, as if the accommodation and meals were not a big issue, lack of transportation to allow the team to train did not sit well with “sponsorship” of a school team. They were forced to look for training grounds on their own and had to find transportation to do this. Heavy rains during this period of course did not make it any easier to find available grounds, but I’d like to assume that the company is aware of this as well.
What I am saying here Digicel, is hoping that this notice will start a serious look into the welfare of school students. Understanding that sponsorship of such an event has a humongous financial pull, there is need to ensure that all teams are afforded the same comfort, training, meals and other avenues that Digicel can provide.
If however, the company is unable to cover such expenditure on its own, then we should work towards collaborating with other corporations and the relevant Government ministries as well.
We must allow our youth to display their full talent and skills grounded in comfort, discipline, commitment and fair play. Hinterland schools especially need expert coaching. Perhaps the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport can contribute in this regard. There needs to be a physiotherapist assigned to each team and not a medical person only on the day of the match, but to allow for proper healing and recuperation.
There need to be clear, written rules and criteria for the matches other than the FIFA rules followed on the playfield so that parents, schools and other supporters can understand and hold to guidelines and what constitute penalties.
It should outline who qualifies as an eligible player, or who qualifies for a scholarship, which I am made to understand schools were promised. Last but not least, we should look into taking the matches into the hinterland where there are well managed grounds.
So whilst Digicel has seemingly sponsored these matches over the years, this time around I need to express my deepest gratitude to those who contributed in more ways than one to making it a little better for our boys.
Persons such as Jean La Rose and the Amerindian People’s Association (APA); Debra Sutherland and her husband Reggie; Mr. Chinnian and his wife Janet; Daphney George; Melzina Wolfe; Bendrel Thomas; Nigel Hughes; the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs and Minister Dawn Hastings Williams. We wish to say “thank you” in the biggest way to Louie Thomas, who has worked voluntarily over the years and seemingly has been doing a great job of bringing them to the highest groups in the absence of a certified coach being there to work with the team.

Finally, we wish to thank the parents of these students who have had to dip into their hard-earned dollars to provide for their sons. For example, they have been tasked with buying their football boots, training uniforms and other gear.

While we all work to enabling our youth, let us not limit it to only the Digicel Schools Championship, but take it beyond the secondary school level to bigger arenas.

Congratulations to all schools that participated and supported their students.

LAURA GEORGE