THE Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Department of Sports, last evening hosted a reception at the Pegasus Hotel for the Swimming, Chess and the Track and Field teams that participated in the various CARIFTA Championships held over the Easter Weekend.

Guyana ended the CARIFTA Games (Track and Field) with a record ten medals – four gold, two silver and four bronze. Aleka Persaud was the star performer with three gold and two bronze in the pool.
In Chess, Guyana finished fifth in the ten-country competition, amassing a total of 36.5 points.

Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Sport, Dr George Norton, told the gathering at the Savannah Suite Pegasus Hotel that the Government of Guyana, and more so the people of Guyana, were all proud of their accomplishments, even those who didn’t make it on the podium.

Chantoba Bright, who won Gold in the Girls U-20 Long Jump, and Silver in the Girls U-20 triple jump, received special mention from Dr Norton, as the minister noted that the Lindener should be applauded for finishing her time at the CARIFTA Games as Guyana’s most decorated athlete to ever compete at the event.

Bright, 19, during her four years competing at the CARIFTA Games, bagged a total of nine medals – three gold, four silver and two bronze.

Her three gold medals came in the Long Jump, while she won three silver and two bronze medals in the Triple Jump. She also, in 2018, won silver in the Girls U-20, 400 metres relay, running alongside Joanna Archer, Kezra Murray and Kenisha Phillips.

Dr Norton also singled out Anisha Gibbons, who won Guyana’s first ever gold medal in the Girls U-17 Javelin.

The Minister, along with Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, said the government will continue to support the athletes in their respective disciplines, while encouraging them to stay focus. (Rawle Toney)