…Calls for continued support

Letter to the Sports Editor
IT would be remiss of me, as the ex-president of the Georgetown Dominoes Association (GDA), to not say ‘thank you’ to the Government of Guyana for its input into dominoes in 2022, through the auspices of the energetic Honourable Charles Ramson, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Two competitions, during 2022, were fully sponsored financially by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and further support of trophies and access to venue – the Gymnasium — were also given.

These sentiments are in recognition of walking the talk. I recalled the Honourable Prime Minister, Mark Phillips. in the opening of the National Sports Disciplines Forum in 2021, saying that the Government of Guyana intends to support all the various sports played in Guyana.

Albeit that most sponsorships were in Central Georgetown, I wish to take this opportunity to urge the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport to make an allocation from the 4.3 billion dollars allocation to sports in budget 2023 to the resuscitation and structuring of dominoes like the other sports and also to place it on its calendar of events.

Although unheralded as a major sport in Guyana, playing dominoes is the most widely played past-time in Guyana. This game is played by the entire strata of our population and perhaps at one time or another in every household in Guyana, even negating gender bias.

Moreover, arguably, as alluded to by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, “playing of dominoes because of its popularity and spread has the most potential of embracing the expressed desire [of] our President, His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali” – “One Guyana”. Dominoes, if you look at the game in progress images this through the camaraderie and bonds it creates among players regardless of colour, race or creed.

My team and I stand ready to assist in building the bridge between the resurging Guyana National Dominoes Federation and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to make this aspiration (playing competitive dominoes, nationally) a reality.

Further, the World Council Dominoes Federation (WCDF) tournament is slated to be staged in August 2023. I therefore think that a “One Guyana” competition prior to the championships presents a great impetus to unionization of a wide cross section of our people now and for future, by continual inputs hereafter.

I humbly suggest that this opportunity be seized.

Respectfully,
Lyndon Boston
Ex-President
Georgetown Dominoes Association