THE Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) will partner with the National Sports Commission and the Town of Bartica, through its Mayor and City Council, to host the 2019 Caribbean Junior Cycling Championships in August this year.

GCF president Horace Burrowes made the disclosure at a press conference held in the Boardroom of the NSC on Homestretch Avenue yesterday, despite an ongoing issue on the local scene that noted the current GFC executives’ term had expired since March 31,
In attendance was the Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall; Director of Sport Christopher Jones and Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) president, Mitra Ramkumar.

Burrowes explained that Guyana had bid to host the 2020 Championships but since the 2019 host country pulled out of organising the event, it was passed onto the GCF. Burrowes noted that after consultation with Director of Sport Christopher Jones and Mayor Gifford Marshall, it was decided that Guyana would play host nation this year with the meet coming off in Bartica.

Just about 26 countries are eligible for participation but Burrowes could not say at this point how many would be participating at the meet come August.
Meanwhile, Marshall expressed excitement at the prospect of Bartica hosting the championships noting that it would positively impact the tourism industry of not only Bartica but Guyana as a nation.

Pointing to the successful hosting of Bartica’s first ever cycling meet just over a month ago, Marshall reiterated that the town would play the ‘gracious host’. He also spoke on behalf of the people and City Council of Bartica, saying that they are ‘grateful for the opportunity’ to host the landmark event.

Meanwhile, Director Jones emphasised the need for the support of corporate Guyana, given the magnitude of the event. He applauded the partnership of the GCF and Bartica’s M&CC in helping to mesh tourism and sport in that region.

The participating countries are scheduled to arrive in Guyana from August 8 before competing on August 10-11. They will depart on August 12.

The Championships is just over two months away and still there has been no General Elections held by the GCF.. When questioned, Burrowes shied away from providing a direct answer stating that the elections is on the horizon. Further quizzed on whether or not the federation’s elections would be held before or after the Championships, Burrowes again declined to answer.

According to the GCF constitution, elections are mandatory after every three years, the current executives’ three-year term was supposed to have ended in March of 2018. However at a meeting back then, it was agreed that the term would be extended to four years, something that was not officially amended in the constitution.

Here we are, almost two months over that four-year expiration date with no clear answer as to when elections will be held so that the local cycling fraternity can see some semblance of stability.