‘GCB elections stalled due on ongoing consultation with CWI’ says Minister Norton Vickery representing Guyana might not be as straight forward

Mar 16, 2018 Sports

Dr George Norton

By Sean Devers
Since officially assuming the Office of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports on September 1 last year, replacing Minister Nicolette Henry who held that position since the Collation Government was voted into office on May 11, 2015, former Minister of Health Dr George Norton has made several promises for the development of Sports in Guyana.
Dr. Norton, who still remains the Minister of Social Cohesion in addition to his present portfolio, told Kaieteur Sport from his office at the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport on Main Street that many important matters are yet to be completed due to various reasons but he says there have also been achievements in the six and a half months he has been Sports Minister.
”There is no doubt about my interest in sports, and I have been exposed to the various cultures across the country. In my role as Minister of Social Cohesion, I have been privileged to work with all the groups across the country, and so I have an understanding of what is needed already. I have always been vocal about youth opportunities and I certainly see the youth population as being the agents of change, who can make social cohesion a reality in Guyana” said Minister Norton, whose son is former National U-19 leg-spinner, George Norton Junior.
Dr Norton believes his biggest achievements have been obtaining a high level of dialogue and communication between the stakeholders in many sporting fraternities.

Sachia Vickery

”Another achievement for the Sports Ministry was identifying locations for the synthetic tracks in Regions 10 and 6 that are currently at the point of engaging local contractors for site preparations while my biggest challenge since my appointment is the implementation of the sports policies that would have been formulated,”
”The sports policy is expected to be at the green paper stage by the end of the first quarter, since further consultations are being sought from the widest cross-section” the Sports minister informed.
Minister Norton disclosed that the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill is awaiting the appointment of the Cricket Ombudsman. Norton said that this appointment will be made as soon as the ‘meaningful consultation’ which is currently ongoing at this point in time with the Cricket West Indies is completed.
”The Demerara Cricket Board and Guyana Cricket Board elections can only be held after the appointment of the Ombudsman” Dr Norton explained. American Tennis player Sachia Vickery was born to Guyanese parents and has indicated that she would like to represent Guyana at the next Olympics. It is understood that she has sent correspondence to the Guyana Government indicating such but has not received a response.
”As Minister with the responsibility for Sports, I have no knowledge of this letter, even though I met Ms. Vickery personally in my office where she had expressed the same. But to represent Guyana might not be as straight forward as it may seem” stated Dr Norton.

GBC President Fizul Bacchus

When asked about the compilation of the National Sports Database and when would it be completed, Dr Norton stated that the National Sports Database is being supervised by the National Sports Commission (NSC) which has contracted it to a private company to do so. Norton added that this process is currently ongoing.
Speaking about the naming of the stands at the Providence Stadium, an issue which was raised since the PPC/C was in Government, the Minister of Sports stated that a policy decision is being sought at the level of Cabinet for the naming of Public Structures.

Dr George Norton, , GBC President Fizul Bacchus

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