Toshao forges relationship with businessman, aggressively pursuing sports and youth development

Jul 30, 2018 Sports

Campaigning on the promises that if elected she would aggressively pursue sports and youth envelopment for the youths in Pakuri (formerly St Cuthbert’s Mission), Beverley Clenkian has begun working towards delivering on what she has dubbed her commitment.

Toshao Pakuri (formerly St Cuthbert’s Mission) Beverley Clenkian with Managing Director of SKI Construction, Alex Mahaica after the presentation.

The Toshao recently held a meeting with Managing Director of SKI Construction, Alex Mahaica where she made a request to have him partner with her and her community in enhancing sports development. “I recognised that during the recently held REO Inter Secondary School Male Hardball Cricket Competition, he was passionate and sincere about helping the youths and after not being able to participate in the cricket competition, I thought it best to approach him with a request to help the youths in our community,” she said.
The Toshao revealed that Mr. Mahaica presented a compete volleyball set to her and community with the commitment that he will soon follow up with a table tennis table among other sporting gears to aid the community in its aggressive sports drive.
She noted that due to the distance of her community it is very difficult and woefully costly for her youths to participate and or compete in a number of competitions. “We have talent and skills and we are confident that our youths can do very well, unfortunately owing to the high cost of travelling we are forced to decline many invitations thus we have sought to establish a sports and cultural club with the aim of further strengthening the skill and talent that do exist.” As such, Toshao Clenkian said that while the aim is to get the youths of the community involved in all sports, her primary focus at the moment is on cricket, volleyball, football, table tennis and athletics.
She said that they remain confident that if given an opportunity the youths in her community would excel. “We are not being taken seriously because not many persons know about our ability but I can say that if we get a chance to showcase many persons would be impressed. We have been receiving a few exchanges as other communities would visit us to play in friendly competitions with the view of doing fundraisers and you can say that in many cases we are underestimated.”
Toshao Clenkian reminded that she made a commitment when she was campaigning and she intends to fulfil that commitment, noting that the lack of positive activities and events are the main contributor to a number of social ills affecting the youths. “I believe that if our young people can have options thus having a number of social, sports and or cultural activities to get involved in then they may recognise that the social ills is not worth it but unfortunately they have all the time on their hand to do it and that is why I am seeking avenues to help them in trying to recognise that social ills shouldn’t have no place in society,” Toshao said.
In handing over the items Mr Mahaica reminded the Toshao that maintaining the donated gears at the highest level is critically important. “One of the sad things which we see regularly in Guyana is that you spend your hard earned monies in securing gears and equipment for substantial amount of monies, but unfortunately those using it tends to forget that they are responsible in ensuring that it is taken care of properly so that many persons can benefit from them. I am urging the Toshao to ensure that those using these gears recognises that they should take great care of it so that as many persons can benefit from them,” he noted. The businessman stressed that he is seeking to build a long term relationship, committing to helping in a number of other areas.
“As a businessman I am giving my commitment that whenever and whatever that I can do to help in enhancing the community that I would certainly do. It is my humble wish that the youths primarily of Pakuri would be able to use these gears in further developing their skills and I trust that other persons, companies and organisations would come on board in helping them too because together we can help in developing sports stars,” he opined.
Declaring that he will continue to give back to several communities and villages which he has been donating to over the years, the SKI Managing Director stressed that he firmly believes in giving back as it helps in building stronger communities.
Toshao Clenkian admitted that she was overjoyed with the noble gesture of businessman Alex Mahaica. She thanked him and stressed that her community would certainly benefit significantly from the gears, while promising to ensure that they are used properly and most importantly responsibly.