The Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) continues to push for a club house and indoor rRange but plans to have the facility in the city have been met with stiff resistance from authorities.
Secretary of the GNRA Ryan Sampson in his report at the just concluded Annual General Meeting of the association said there are still active plans for the state of the art facility despite the challenges.
Sampson disclosed that the GNRA was allocated a piece of land at Tuschen on the West Coast Demerara by the Ministry of Housing despite efforts to have the land closer to the city.
“We have been unsuccessful so far in having this revised for an area closer to the city.
“We have recently written to the Ministry of Housing seeking guidance in acquiring the land title at Tuschen. Our approach is to have the land at Tuschen as an asset and still pursue the possibility of having it swapped for a piece of land in the environs of the city,” said the long serving secretary.
He said the GNRA has given the authorities all assurances that the venue will be safe after several officials had expressed safety fears.
“Despite the reassurances of safety measures and the venue being sound-proof the authorities have not changed their minds. We certainly feel that having an indoor range and Club House will immensely contribute to an increase in competitiveness of our shooters. We will be able to host more smallbore competition and this will be an avenue for income as licensed firearm holders will be able to utilize the range for a fee,” Sampson added.
Sampson also cited the shortage of ammunition as having an adverse effect on the performances of both the fullbore and smallbore sections of the Association.
He said neither section was able to run off its National championships due to the shortage.
“It is very important that we obtain our tax exemptions so as to keep the ammunition cost very close to cost price. We will continue to appeal to the relevant authorities for the granting of the tax waiver on the ammunition we have to purchase.”
Guyana will host this year’s West Indies Fullbore championships in October at the Timehri Rifle ranges featuring Antigua/Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the host nation.
Preparations have already started including rehabilitation work being undertaken at the Timehri ranges with assistance from the Guyana Defence Force.
The GNRA elected a new executive to run the affairs of the Association for the next year with Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force Commodore Gary Best being retained as President.
