Latest update August 27th, 2026 10:20 AM
Aug 06, 2023 Sports

Dr. Olato Sam (centre) was present for the launching of the 3rd Milo Under-20 Football in 2015, which was administered by the Petra Organisation.
Kaieteur Sports – The Petra Organisation has released a statement following the passing of Dr. Olato Sam, it reads: We at the Petra Organization are shocked and saddened by the untimely demise of Dr. Olato Sam. Dr. Sam was very instrumental in guiding our engagement and interactions with the Ministry of Education (MOE). It was during his tenure as Chief Education Officer that Approval was granted for us to use School Teams in the Courts Pee Wee Football ten (10) years ago.
Dr. Sam without delay or hesitation in his advisory capacity to the Minister of Education, signaled to the late Loraine Barker-King the then Administrator of the Allied Arts Unit (Ministry of Education) to green light Approval for the completion of the Milo School’s Football Tournament which the Covid-19 Pandemic disrupted.
In June of 2022, Dr. Sam and the Director of Sports Mr. Steve Ninvalle, invited the Petra Organization and other stakeholders to a meeting to discuss synergy, development, fair play, and the re-engagement of Private Schools in our Football Tournaments. It was Dr. Sam’s experience and shared knowledge that guided us to adjust our Rules. His input ensured that students who represented both private and public institutions were duly registered at schools/institutions for a specified period, with the emphasis being placed on their academic pursuits also.
So involved was Dr. Sam with our programs, that only last evening and the day before he contacted Mr. Troy Mendonca Co-Director of the Petra Organization via WhatsApp messages for an update on the Scores in the Digicel’s School Football Tournament Round of 16 matches.
The Petra Organization will greatly miss Dr. Sam’s friendship, support, and impacting guidance and we are sure numerous others that he would have come into contact with.
We, therefore, wish to express our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones, his family, and the Ministry of Education. May his soul rest in peace and rise in glory.
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Aug 27, 2026
…Championship set for March 3 – 5 By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – The National Schools Athletics Championships will return to Linden for the first time in nearly two decades, with the 2027...Aug 27, 2026
(Kaieteur News) – There is a particular species of political nostalgia that thrives in countries with short memories. It takes yesterday’s failures, dusts them with the language of national purpose, places them beneath a portrait of the departed leader and calls the result a vision. This is...Aug 23, 2026
By Sir Ronald Sanders (Kaieteur News) – I have been an advocate of the Caribbean Court of Justice from its conception. In 2015, on the Court’s tenth anniversary, I described its creation as arguably the most significant institutional achievement of the English-speaking Caribbean since the...Aug 27, 2026
Hard Truths by GHK Lall (Kaieteur News) – Pres. Ali means well. I wonder, though, whether he is serious. Or, if he takes himself seriously. I put it gently. He should listen to himself. The parts of his speeches that are not AI influenced. (Follow-up planned). Change eating...Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: glennlall2000@gmail.com / kaieteurnews@yahoo.com