THE need to integrate communities all across Guyana has been the recurring theme among politicians, village leaders and the wider society for a long time now and many initiatives have been advanced to do so.
Sports has been one of the vehicles advocated to break down age-old barriers that prevented cohesion among villages and communities and when Three-Peat Promotions stage its 2nd Annual Guinness Cage Competition on the Haslington Tarmac on August 8, it will mark another opportunity to aid in fostering camaraderie and understanding among the various communities.
The promotional group which hosted its inaugural tournament last year at the National Gymnasium will visit the Haslington Market Tarmac on the East Coast of Demerara on this occasion in response to the overwhelming requests from teams that are based on the East Coast.
Co-principal Rawle Welch said the staging of this year’s tournament on the East Coast is due in large measure to the request by several teams that are based along the East Coast corridor, informing that the bulk of the invited teams will come from those communities.
“We have invited a total of twenty-four teams and a minimum of twelve will come from the East Coast villages, while the remainder will comprise teams from Georgetown, Linden and West Demerara and they will compete in the tournament which we have dubbed ‘The East Coast Best against the Rest’,” Welch disclosed.
The fans, he said, are the best anywhere, well-behaved and very supportive of events and according to the organizer, the team had no hesitation in its decision to reward the communities for their support and love over the years.
“Many feel that the East Coast teams are not on par with teams from the other communities, but the time has arrived for all to put up or shut up because, as someone who has had the privilege to witness all the communities across the various regions, I can confirm that the East Coast teams have improved immensely and should not be considered push-overs anymore,” Welch stated.
He said he anticipates some riveting rivalries over the five days of competition as the hosts look to repel the challenges of visiting teams.
Over $800,000 in prize money and trophies will be up for grabs, while lucky fans will have the opportunity to win prizes over the five nights of competition for their support at the bar.
“Every night we will have a winner among the fans and this will be awarded to the fan that buys the most buckets of the sponsor’s beverage”.
Clarks footwear giants, Chetsons, has already pledged its support, while commitment of support has come from Queensway Security Services, E-Networks Inc., KSM Investments, Yhip’s Bakery, Brass Aluminium & Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF), Ray’s Auto Sales, Y.K. Investments, Trophy Stall, Woodpecker Products, National Sports Commission, ‘C’ Division of the Guyana Police Force, Julius Variety Store and C & C Prestigious Styles.
