… Finals to be held under lights

THE 2016 edition of the Upper Mazaruni District Games opened on Sunday to the words of President David Granger dubbing the one-week event a local version of the Olympic Games.

“We have the Olympics right here only the fireworks are missing,” were the words of the Head of State as he spoke to more than four hundred athletes from twelve villages who converged on Kamarang/Warawatta village.

“Whenever I go to the other regions I always tell them about the Upper Mazaruni games, where villages come, where people walk sometimes for one or two days sometimes even longer to reach their destination,” the President said.

He continued, “They come on foot they come by canoe. There is no other part of Guyana where we can see ten or twelve villages coming together voluntarily with their own resources to have fun to have games like Upper Mazaruni.”

The President expounded on his pride to see the community-based involvement throughout the hinterland region, adding, “Sometimes I see nursing mothers just set aside their babies to go and play football, win the match, come back and continue nursing their babies, smiling.”

The Head of State added that he and his government will continue to contribute to that happiness “by helping you to make the games bigger and better every year” while also throwing out a challenge to other communities like Bartica, to pick up and run with the initiative.

The President was accompanied by First Lady Sandra Granger, Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Sydney Allicock, Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry, Minister within the Ministry of Communities Dawn Hastings-Williams, Director of Sport Christopher Jones, Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford, Regional Executive Officer Roderick Edinboro and Ministerial Adviser to the Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Mervin Williams.

The day’s activities began with a joint religious service where members from the various denominations gathered for praise and worship.

However, on the stroke of noon, the teams all decked out in their respective club uniforms began a colourful parade approximately a quarter of a mile from the airstrip and converged on the centre of attention – the Kamarang Playfield.

There, Vice-President Allicock, Minister Hastings-Williams, Regional Chairman Bradford and Regional Executive Officer, Toshao Norma Thomas all took the salute.

Vice-President Allicock, in acknowledging the leading role Upper Mazaruni District continues to play in sport, urged them to continue in this vein which can serve as a springboard for attaining international status.

After officially declaring the Games open, Director of Sport Christopher Jones said the Ministry of Education and the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport had contributed fuel for the games to the tune of $400 000, trophies for male and female champions as well as gear for a number of sport disciplines.

However, what was monumental was the donation of floodlights for the Kamarang Playground which will ensure this year’s games and future games are played under floodlights – the first of such developments in sport for the region.

Also adding to the excitement was a cultural dance that showcased the talents of the indigenous people as well as a parade by the Master Guide Club from Paruima.

The Mini Totem Pole, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs and Cell Phone giant Digicel, was also on display and persons were allowed photo opportunities with the sculpture.

When the action got going Kamarang’s Male Tigers walloped Waramadong, while the encounter between the female teams saw a reverse in the results at the final whistle.