IN 2024, the National Sports Commission and the Guyana Olympic Association took the bold step to no longer engage the country’s national swimming body, based on what it stated was a range of issues that affected the administration of the sport and its impact on the country’s swimmers.

Newly elected President of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), Yolema Phillips, says that moves are currently underway to resolve that status.

“In terms of our relationship with the Guyana Olympic Association and the National Sports Commission, it remains unchanged for now; however, we are optimistic that by the 31st of January everything will be fully back to normal, allowing us to continue our collaboration for the sport in Guyana.”

Phillips did not give many details on the engagement with the different parties; however, sources close to the executive and familiar with the matter told the Guyana Chronicle that World Aquatics met with all parties involved and is exploring how to have the parties move past the current impasse.

In September last year, the NSC stripped the swimming body of its core-sport status after several issues were raised by stakeholders within the sport.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in May 2024 after a stakeholders’ meeting, indicated that they will not offer any financial support to the body, because of what they termed as irregularities in the administration of the sport.

In a joint statement late last year, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) escalated the situation, saying they no longer recognise GASA as a sports body in good standing and will no longer engage with the current executive of GASA.

It further added that complaints from interested persons ranged from biased selection, exclusion from competitive swimming, nepotism, and refusal to accept clubs as members of GASA which meet the requirements, unresponsiveness from the executive of GASA, heavy-handed and unfair treatment by GASA, unconstitutional actions and financial misconduct by the executive of GASA.

The situation reached a climax last year after well connected Guyana-born swimmer Delroy Tyrrell expressed frustration at being unable to switch allegiance from Trinidad and Tobago where he was residing and competing to represent Guyana.

It was further aggravated when swim clubs Dolphin headed by National Coach Paul Mahaica and Trident Swim Club which he is also affiliated with, was banned for one and two years respectively for reportedly disrupting an ongoing competition because of grievances with the GASA.
Meanwhile, Phillips who previously served as Vice-President after Dwayne Scott didn’t seek re-election, says she is heavily focused on charting her vision for the sport, which centres on athletes development and effective administration as president.

“My immediate plans for 2025 include focusing on strengthening the organisation’s internal structures. This will involve working closely with my executives, board and clubs to ensure a clear and unified path for the progress of both junior and senior athletes. Our primary focus will be on development strategies for athletes and better approaches to serve them to support this the executive board has already submitted a five-year plan to World Aquatics which will be supporting through funding.”