– Government, AAG to pronounce after NACAC announcement

IT can only be best described as a ‘fumble of the baton’ between the Government of Guyana (past and present) and the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), which resulted in the ‘Land of Many Waters’ losing its right to host the 50th edition of the prestigious CARIFTA Games.

The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC), custodians of the CARIFTA Games, is set to announce The Bahamas as the host nation for the 50th edition in 2023.

While NACAC is yet to make an official announcement, sources confirmed that today at their council meeting in Kingston, Jamaica at the ongoing games, the Track and Field sub-governing body accepted a bid from The Bahamas.

The Bahamas’ bid was presented by the Island’s Prime Minister, Philip Davis; Minister of Sport, Mario Bowleg and the Bahamas Association of Athletics Association (BAAA).

Guyana had won a bid to host the games in 2019, but the AAG failed at securing a written commitment from the Government of Guyana.

The AAG, according to the well-placed source, was only able to get the Government’s verbal commitment, while NACAC was pressing for an official agreement, which is mandatory.

In actuality, the AAG has been asking for a written commitment from the government since 2019.

Sources confirmed, also, that the AAG had told the current government that apart from their letter of commitment, the local organising committee was struggling to find sufficient rooms to house the delegation of officials, athletes and dignitaries from participating countries.

When contacted, officials of both the government and the AAG told Chronicle Sport that they will make the necessary pronouncement following the official announcement of NACAC.

Guyana is a founding-member of CARIFTA, and in 1972, the games were initiated to mark the Caribbean Free Trade Association’s transition to CARICOM.