By Sean Devers

Micheal Anthony Parris, Guyana’s only Olympic Medalist, was yesterday honoured having a monument unveiled at the Merriman Mall on the corner of North Road, Church Street and Shivnarine Chanderpaul drive.

The Bust, made Keith Agard, was unveiled by Parris who won Bronze at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and is the only pugilist from the English-speaking Caribbean to win an Olympic Medal.

With the 65-year-old Parris to share the moment with the diminutive Boxer was his family and sports Officials from Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), National Sport Commission (NSC), Government of Guyana and several school children.

The was the first ever Event staged by National Olympians Association of Guyana (GNOA) which was founded in 2021 and was the brainchild of its late President Jeffery Sankies who passed away last February.

Sankies represented British Guiana in Judo at the 1956 Olympics.

The Bust is the only of its kind for Boxing in Caribbean is a fitting monument for Parris who beat Nureni Gbadamosi (Nigeria), Fayez Zaghloul (Syria) and Daniel Zaragoza (Mexico) before losing 0-5 in the semi-final to Juan Hernandez (Cuba).

The master of Ceremonies was GDF lieutenant, former Swimmer and General Secretary of the GNOA Britney Van Lang while Director of Sports a and President of the GBA Steve Ninvalle, member of NSC and President of the GTTA and GOA Godfery Munroe, GNOA President Andrew Harry and Parris also made speeches.

Ninvalle told the fairly small gathering which GOA’s former President K. Juman Yassin and others that Parris’ feat 43 years was a rare one, especially for Boxing in the Caribbean.

“The NSC has started something to honour the Champ and we compete it this year. I am sure that Keevin Allicock will join Mr Parris in getting a medal for Guyana” revealed Ninvalle.

“On behalf of the Government, the Sports Ministry and the NSC, I say congratulations to Mr Parris and his family, especially his wife who has played a big role in his achievements” continued the Director of Sports who was once a Boxing Journalist.

Ninvalle added that it was fitting where the location was for the ‘Mike Parris Bust’ since Parris will be overlooking another outstanding servant to Guyana’s sports, Cricketer Shiv Chanderpaul.

GNOA President Harry, who competed in track in the 1996 Olympics, said the Association plans to do similar events to honour outstanding Guyanese sprinters James Ren Gilkes, June Griffith and Jenifer Innis while congratulating Parris for winning Guyana’s only Olympic Medal.

Harry also praised Sankies for his role in yesterday’s event and informed he died a day after the ceremony was confirmed.
Parris, who asked for a minutes’ silence in memory of the late Sankies, spoke of the hard work he put in on his path to success and encouraged the young boxers to do the same.