Commodore Gary Best, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force who was returned unopposed as President of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) pleaded with the association members to work harder this year to ensure that the association has its Club House and Indoor Shooting Ranges up and running.
In addressing members of the GNRA shortly after being returned to office at the Annual General Meeting Wednesday evening at Bank of Guyana Roof Garden, Commodore Best said the association will be working vigorously towards acquiring a piece of land to build a Clubhouse and Indoor Shooting Range in addition to working assiduously to improve the Timehri Rifle ranges to international standards.
“In face work has already started at the Timehri ranges (Guyana’s main shooting facility) ` in an effort to bring it to international standards,” Best said.
The project at Timehri is a joint effort between the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the GNRA and will see the ranges being upgraded and key facilities constructed.
The GNRA was provided with land to build the club house in West Demerara, but secretary Ryan Sampson said it was inappropriate and efforts are being made to secure land on the East Bank of Demerara with the alternative being refurbishing one of the sports clubs on Carifesta Avenue.
“We certainly feel that having an Indoor range and Club house will immensely contribute to an increase in competitiveness of our shooters, it will be an avenue for income as licensed firearm holders will be able to utilise the range for a fee, and it will be the home of the association,” Sampson said.
He added that 2009 was a very successful year for the association with the rifle shooting team retaining the West Indies full bore championships.
According to Sampson, members continue to show commitment to the sport but noted that there needs to be an increase in female membership.
“The full bore section continued to have members investing large sums of money to reequip themselves with new rifle and shooting gears. The entire team has maintained their equipment to the high standard of other top teams in the world. This demonstrated their continued commitment for excellence in the sport of shooting,” Sampson noted.
Sampson said that Air pistol shooting was resuscitated while Paint Ball shooting continued to be very popular among members of the Small Bore section.
In the election of Officers Bearers most of the executives who served last year were returned to office.
Best was returned as President with assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe and Richard Fields S C. being retained as vice presidents.
Sampson and Lt. Col. Terry Stuart retained their position of Secretary and Treasurer respectively with Lancelot Khan being returned as assistant secretary treasurer.
Mahendra Persaud and Dylan Fields will serve as full bore captain and vice captain for another term.
Joseph Chin has taken over the captaincy of the Small Bore Section with Mohamed Qualander being voted in as vice captain.
The committee members are Johanse DaSilva, Ransford Goodluck and Hemant Narine.
The auditors are Dale Hing and Rakesh Persaud.
