GT&T adds $1M to GRFU’s coffers

Oct 17, 2008 Sports

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By Rawle Welch

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) once more demonstrated their commitment to the development of sports across the country when they presented the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) with $1million to help fund their participation at the upcoming NAWIRA Championships in the Bahamas.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company Brigadier Retired Joe Singh handed over the cheque to President of the GRFU Noel Adonis during a ceremony which was attended by the press and officials of GT&T and GRFU at the former Canteen yesterday.
Also present was NAWIRA Regional Development Officer Scott Harland, who arrived in the country a few hours before the presentation was done.
Speaking at the occasion, Singh, a former player himself, said that the Company was extremely impressed with the level of leadership, accountability and strategic planning that the GRFU has displayed and whenever they are approached for support those are the principal factors that are taken into consideration in addition to the undisputed success of the teams.
Guyana who are the Men’s Sevens champions for the past two years will be defending their title with the top two teams moving on to the World Cup finals in Dubai next year, while the Ladies will also be competing at the tournament.
The GT&T CEO added that they would be failing in their civic responsibility, if they do not support such ventures.
He disclosed that come next year, the Company would be focusing on the promotion of youth and culture, but mentioned three criterions that will influence their support.
The first will take into account the level of the organisation’s accountability, strategic planning and Management (2) whether participants, players and officials display professionalism and discipline and have the hunger for success and the ability of players to be seen as role models who could provide the kind of positive mileage that the Company admires.
He also thanked his staff for their continued engagement with associations that are performing at the highest level, before wishing the teams the best of luck.
West Indies Rugby Union (WIRU) President Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimento, who also serves as Public Relations Adviser to GRFU in his remarks recognised the consistent support GT&T has offered to the Union and by extension to many other sporting Bodies which he referred to as praiseworthy.
He reflected on their assistance to WIRU last year when the team was traveling to compete in the World Sevens Tournament in San Diego, California.
Nascimento pointed out that if the two-time champions manage to retain their title and qualify for the World Cup in Dubai it would be an enormous achievement for Guyana that could serve as a fillip for the sport and perhaps all sports across this nation.
“Imagine having the opportunity to play in front of a massive TV audience worldwide as well as around 25-30,000 spectators,” Nascimento mused.
He thanked GT&T for leading the way in providing the kind of sponsorship that sports really need.
Deputy General Manager of Public Communications Terry Holder, who chaired the proceedings, spoke of some of the projects that the Company has supported giving as examples the development of libraries, financial assistance to indigent homes and support to athletes etc.
He also acknowledged the work that the GRFU had done to stimulate interest in the sport, adding that they deserved high marks.
“We at GT&T view the support as an investment that will bear fruit and se the teams qualify for the World Cup finals.”
Holder said that they hope Guyana can replace the USA and Canada, the No.1 and 2 seeds respectively as the top team in the NAWIRA Group.
Meanwhile, Adonis in his remarks disclosed that for many years in Guyana a few Companies have been in the forefront of offering help to many sports institutions and certainly GT&T stands out as one of the leaders.
“It is indeed true that GT&T has been supporting the Union for a number of years and this started even before the our good friend Joe Singh came on board, what I can say is that the amount has increased and the boundaries extended,” Adonis informed.
“We will ensure that we continue to maintain the connection we have here and I’m extremely pleased to be here this afternoon (yesterday) to receive this donation.”
He said that with the inclusion of the USA and Canada, it will be tougher this year, but was confident that the team (Men) can do the job.
“They’ve been training since August and with five players from the West Indies team in the provisional squad, we are a tough team to beat.”
The two teams will continue practice sessions at the National Park with game simulations set for tomorrow.

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