By Emmerson Campbell
The Port Mourant Turf Club and AJ Promotions of Bartica each received substantial cash donations yesterday to assist with their respective sporting activities during the Easter weekend, compliments of telecommunications giant Digicel.
Public Relations Officer of Digicel, Shonnet Moore made the presentation to CEO of AJ Promotions Bhudesh Chatterpaul and Secretary of the Port Mourant Turf Club Chattergoon Ramnauthin the boardroom of Digicel’s head office in Kingston.
Chatterpaul‘s AJ Promotions is the entertainment arm of the Chatterpaul Investments in Bartica and is responsible for the two-day power boat racing events at this year’s annual Bartica Regatta.
At the presentation Chatterpaul gave an overview of the power boating event and thanked Digicel for their sponsorship.
“On behalf of AJ promotion and the Bartica Regatta Committee we would like to thank Digicel for supporting this event,” said Chatterpaul.
He added: “This year incentives will amount to four million dollars in cash and prizes, the largest ever in the history of Bartica Regatta Power Boating events. We will have 26 events, three canoe sprints, four jet ski races, four races in the 25 to 40 horsepower, five races in the 75 to 90 horsepower, four races in the 115 to 200 horsepower and six races in the 225 to unlimited category.”
Chatterpaul noted that the events will attract top boat racers like Dave Scott, Randy Dell and Neil Gonsalves.
Moore mentioned that the powerboat races are the highlight of the annual Bartica Regatta festivities and her company is extremely excited about partnering with AJ’s promotions to bring the two days of exciting racing to residents and tourists in Bartica.
Moore also encouraged powerboat fans to attend the events as there will be lots of exiting giveaways and Digicel prizes to be won under the Digicel tent that will be in Bartica.
Meanwhile, Ramnauth thanked Digicel for sponsoring the eight-race horse racing meet which will be held on Easter Sunday at the Port Mourant Turf Club.
He noted that horses will come from as far as the USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados to compete among the locally bred trotters and that the four main races will be the Three-year-old Open (Guyana and West Indian Bred)($390,000 first prize), B and Lower (one million dollars first prize), Four-year-old Open (Guyana and West Indian Bred) ($450,000 first prize) and the Three-year-old Guyana Bred ($300,000 first prize)
Ramnauth also boasted that the Port Mourant Turf Club is the only Turf club that is equipped with a photo finish camera and a starting gate that accommodates 16 horses.
Moore said that Digicel is pleased to be partnering with the Port Mourant Turf Club and also revealed that the sponsorship will mark the second time for the year that Digicel has partnered with the club.
The first time was the Norman Singh Memorial and Jumbo Jet meet last weekend.
Moore also disclosed that there will be a horse racing meet in July dubbed the Digicel Horse Race Classic at a venue to be announced.
