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GOG funds return of National Blind Cricketer remains
Director of Sport Christopher Jones puts the Guyana flag on Gordon Sandiford’s remains just after it arrived in Guyana Tuesday.
The body of National Blind Cricketer Gordon Sandiford was returned to his native Guyana on Tuesday night on a Caribbean Airlines flight from St Lucia where he died on July 31 during the 2015 West Indies Blind Council’s Regional Blind 40-overs and t20 Cricket tournament.
The body was brought as Cargo in a box and covered with the National flag ‘the Golden Arrow Head’ by Director of Sports Christopher Jones. The hearse from the Jerrick’s Funeral Home in the Village of Paradise was afforded Police escort from the Airport to East Coast.
Jones told reporters that it was the duty of the Guyana Government to bring the body home and pay for the cost of doing so since Gordon died while on National duty performing the role as a sporting Ambassador.
“This is a demonstration by this Government of our commitment to support our National sporting Ambassadors in the good times and in the bad times. This is indeed a very sad occasion not only for his family and team mates but the entire nation has lost a talented young man who was in St Lucia to represent his country in Blind Cricket,” Jones said.
“This Government will continue to recognize the efforts of our sportsmen and women and do whatever we can to offer support. This is one step (bringing back the body) in showing that we care not only for the development of sports but for those who participate in it, especially at a national level,” Jones disclosed.
The Director of Sports again offered his condolence to the family and team mates for the tragic loss.
Jones, along with the Minister Dr Rupert Roopnarine visited to family before the body was brought back and $2.5 Million was given from the Lotto funds to assist the team prior to departure for St Lucia.
The 28-year-old Sandiford, who hails from the East Coast Village of Plaisance, died on his way to the Hospital after a trip with his team mates to Beach after Guyana’s washed out match against the Windward Islands on July 31 after experiencing trouble while in the Sea.
According to team Manager Theresa Pemberton, the ‘BI’ (Totally Blind) Cricketer encounter some problems in the water and was brought to the Beach and given CPR before being taken by Ambulance to the hospital and succumbed on the way there.
A wake for Sandiford was held on Tuesday evening at the Guyana Society for the Blind.
Former cricketer Mark Harper attended the wake. The funeral is set for Friday, with a viewing at the home from 1.30 -2.00, then 2.00 -3.00 pm at the church (St Paul’s Church, Plaisance), while at 3.00 pm is the service thence to Plaisance Burial Ground for internment.
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