Upper Mazaruni Games open …President Granger dubs Upper Mazaruni District Games Olympic affair

Aug 09, 2016 News

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… as 2016 Games kick off in festive atmosphere
The curtain on the 2016 Upper Mazaruni District Games was drawn yesterday, as more than

400 athletes from 12 villages converged on Kamarang/Warawatta village for the highly anticipated District Games.
President Brigadier David Granger; First Lady Sandra Granger, Vice President and Minister of indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock, Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry; Minister within the Ministry of Communities Dawn Hastings-Williams; Director of Sports, Christopher Jones; Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford; Regional Executive Officer, Roderick Edinboro; and Ministerial Advisor to the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mervyn Williams.
The day’s activities began with a joint religious service. Members from the various denominations Methodist, Adventist, the Alleluia worship group (an indigenous religion) all gathered in praise and worship.
However, on the stroke of noon, the teams all decked out in their respective club uniforms, staged a colourful parade approximately a quarter of a mile from the village airstrip and converged at the center of the Kamarang Play Field.
Delivering the feature address was President David Granger who has attended yet another district games. “It is a special time of the year for the Upper Mazaruni…Some of the best sports men and women in Guyana come from the hinterland, come from Region Seven.
“But because of distance, because of the lack of facilities, because of poor transportation many of the selectors on the coastland never see your talent, never see your skill and that is why I keep coming back, and Sandra and I keep coming back here to tell other regions about the talent you possess.”

The President noted, “I don’t know how people could go to Rio to watch Olympics; we have Olympics right here, only the fireworks are missing.”
“Whenever I go to the other regions I always tell them about the Upper Mazaruni games, where villages come together, where people walk sometimes for one or two days, sometimes even longer to reach their destination, they come on foot, they come by canoe.
There is no other part of Guyana where we can see ten or twelve villages coming together voluntarily with their own resources to have fun, to have games like Upper Mazaruni,” the President said.
He acknowledged organizers as they continue to make this initiative a success story.
“This involvement has always impressed me. Sometimes I see nursing mothers just set aside their babies go and play football, win the match, come back and continue nursing their babies, smiling.
“This is a happy district, I will continue to contribute to that happiness by helping you to make these games bigger and better every year,” the President declared.

Challenges were also thrown out to Minister Allicock and Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford to undertake similar initiatives in Region Seven, and during the annual Bartica Regatta and beyond, since according to the Head of State “I want Bartica to take another step in Upper Mazaruni; I want Bartica to work towards establishing a sports stadium.”
“Don’t wait for Government; don’t wait for the department of sports; don’t wait for the Ministry of Education, you can do what Upper Mazaruni did, use your initiative. I like to help people who like to help themselves,” the President challenged.
Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock in acknowledging the leading role Upper Mazaruni District continues to play in sport. He urged the region to continue in this vein which can serve as a spring board for attaining international status.
Minister Allicock said, “The Indigenous Peoples’ Ministry will stand behind you to give you the necessary support that you would want to have to realize your dreams…. As a nation we need you to continue to do this to bring our young people together, to be able to engage our elders and the specialists so that we can create from our various communities, opportunities for a better life—economically, socially, spiritually and otherwise.”
After officially declaring the games open, Director of Sport Christopher Jones said, because of Government’s commitment, the Ministry of Education and the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport contributed fuel for the games, trophies, and sports gear.
However, what was monumental was the donation of flood lights for the Kamarang Playground which will ensure this year’s games and future games are played under flood lights, the first of such developments in sport for the region.
This announcement was made amongst loud applauses.
However, before the lights were handed over, President Granger led the delegation as they greeted the male teams from Waramadong and host Kamarang/Warawatta.
Amid loud applause the Minister was then tasked with kicking off of the ball.
Also adding to the excitement was a cultural dance presentation that showcased the talents of the indigenous peoples as well as, a parade by the Master Guide Club from Paruima.
The Mini Totem Pole a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and Cell Phone Giant Digicel, was also on display.
Kamarang’s Male Tigers walloped Waramadong, while the female encounter between the same teams saw a reverse in the results when the final whistle was heard.

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