GASA President visits ‘Sports Minister Dr. Norton

Sep 27, 2019 Sports

Yesterday at his Office on Main Street Georgetown, Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton met with the recently elected President of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), Brian Goodrich who replaced Ivan Persaud following fresh elections less than a year into his third term, earlier this month.

GASA President Brian Goodridge greets Sports Minister George Norton yesterday.

Minister Norton congratulated Goodrich on his election and promised to work closely with the new body for the development of swimming which he feels is a vibrant sports discipline.
Dr. Norton told Goodrich that during his trip to the North Pakarimas, he saw young boys and girls engaged in open water swimming in the River and asked him to follow-up on this and look at the possibility of having swimming Coaches sent to those communities.
Goodrich shared GASA’s plans for the development of water sports, such as Water Polo, which is an Olympic Sport. Minister Norton said he also saw persons in Bartica swimming across the mighty Essequibo River to Rivers View where he was the Toshao for the village.
“It’s about the third time they have done that,” Minister Norton noted while Goodrich assured that efforts will be made to look at support for that event. Both Minister Norton and the GASA top man agreed to examine the possibility of subsidizing the cost for young athletes to utilize a privately-owned pool in Linden, Region 10.
“I hope that myself, along with you and your new Executive can work together to really expand and develop swimming,” Dr. Norton said. This year talented 16-year-0ld Region 9 swimmer Coleen Stephens became the first individual from Lethem to be awarded a Sports Scholarship to the City.
The historic Scholarship was made possible through the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs after recommendations from Dr. Norton who told Goodrich that Coleen has represented Guyana in Suriname adding that more scholarships for young swimmers from Hinterland is needed. Dr. Norton is APNU’s Director of Hinterland Affairs.
The Minister was accompanied by Guyana’s lone Olympic medalist, Boxer, Michael Parris who a Bronze medal at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Both parties described yesterday’s meeting as ‘Fruitful’. (Sean Devers)

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