GBBFF head Sookram on CAC games
GUYANA is set on sending a 12-member squad to the 53rd Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship in Guatemala next month.
The team is expected to depart a day or two before the August 27–31 competition, organised by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB).
Acting president of the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, (GBBFF) Videsh Sookram, says, as someone who has coached athletes, this is one of the strongest teams.
“We have, I would say, the best team for CAC. One of the people who has been outstanding at CAC is Romelton Siland, who will be taking part in 3-4 categories. Normally when Romelton competes and takes part in these categories, all is gold, so definitely, we will be returning with some gold medals. We have newcomers Mr. Guyana, Mr. Clean (Colin Chesney), and Yusuf Khan, who is an upcoming sharp-physique athlete; two female athletes, Melitha Anderson (bikini wellness) and Savita Stephenson, who is bikini; and then we have Mr. Muscle (Linden Burnett). He is one of the Guyanese who have been outstanding in the way he puts together his body at this age; he’s in his 50s and still winning gold medals for his country. We also have Rawle Green, who always turns up for his country.”
Sookram says anticipation is high for the 12-member team in the Latin American country.
‘Our expectation is a 99% chance of the largest display of gold medals for the country when it comes to bodybuilding for Guyana at CAC.’
The long-time administrator says nothing is being left to chance as they have sought out technical training for their athlete’s weeks ahead of the CAC competition.
‘I think sometimes the judges in Guyana judge basically what they see, and what we see is a different level in other countries. What we did as an executive invited Roger Boyce to visit Guyana within the next two weeks to have a display of our CAC team along with two other judges to help them to brush and sharpen up before they reach the stage, so we are not leaving any stone unturned; we are trying to get the best out of our team and assure the country of these gold medals.’
The vice president of the GBBFF says putting together the team and making arrangements have proved demanding because of recent administrative changes in the federation, but the executives put their collective energies together to deliver a strong team.
He added that this competition requires one of the largest budgets, and they are eternally grateful for the support of the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports through Minister Charles Ramson Jr., Zoon Logistics, the Guyana Olympic Association, and Fitness Express for the crucial support.
The full team reads, Colin Chesney (heavyweight and master bodybuilding); Trinity Mahaica (kids’ fitness); Yusuf Khan (physique open); Sobantho Martin (kids’ fitness); Romelton Siland (Mr. Fitness, fit model, fitness challenge, fit pair, and masters physique); Linden Burnett (light heavyweight and masters); Amariah Siland (kids’ fitness); Melitha Anderson (bikini fit model); Roley Chandler (classic physique, open physique, physique junior, and fitness challenge); Shemar Burrowes (bodybuilding); and Rawle Green (masters and heavyweight bodybuilding).
At the 2025 CAC championship held in St. Lucia, Guyana racked up 12 medals, with gold medals from Lindon Burnett, Rawle Greene, and Romelton Siland.
