Latest update January 18th, 2025 7:00 AM
Former scrabble player lauds progress of current word formers
Abigail McDonald
Abigail McDonald’s feat at the World Scrabble Championships, recently staged in Malaysia has attracted plaudits from Guyanese at home as well as the Diaspora. The latest words of praise emanated from the pen of Lewis Singh, a founder member of the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP), now resident in the United States of America.
Singh said that he was instrumental in the formation of GASP but migrated soon afterwards. He said that he has been observing the progress of the Association through the internet and was extremely delighted at the fast pace of development of the entity.
Singh disclosed that he was one of the founder members of the association which also had viable input from current veteran player, Nicholas Grant and Roy Sharma. He credited the efforts of Carlton Murray who was also among the early administrators. Murray subsequently migrated to England but recently re-migrated to this country and is an integral part of the sport. Murray also sponsors one of the championships on the GASP calendar of activity, the Carlton Murray Lien trophy. He also competes at all other tournaments.
Singh said that the young players should acquaint themselves with the history attached to the sport in an effort to add to its rich tradition. He said that he had been instrumental in drafting the first constitution of the association while another veteran player, Carmen Gonsalves, who coined the words in the first motto, ‘We associate to educate,’ also came in for high praise.
Singh revealed that in 1997 Dr Randall Gibbons won the right to represent Guyana at the World Scrabble Championships in Washington DC. He only managed to win one game. In 1999, then National Champion, Michael Carter was slated to represent Guyana at the World Championships in Adelaide Australia. The inability of the executives of the GASP to accrue the required funding to facilitate the trip forced him out of the championships. Carter again won the right to represent Guyana in Las Vegas the following championships but financial constraints once again put paid to his dreams.
Singh claimed that after Carter’s inability to make the trip, he (Singh) represented Guyana along with three others that were residing in the USA. Singh further said, “Given that the three other representatives were more prepared than I, my eight wins were very commendable to their 1, 9 and 9.5 respectively. He said that he finished at 82nd place in the tournament.
Singh is optimistic that the local association would eventually cross the many hurdles that are currently impeding its progress. “I would like to congratulate Abigail for her showing in Malaysia and wish the entire membership of GASP all the best in the upcoming Caribbean Championships,” Singh concluded.
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