The Guyana leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay officially kicked off yesterday.
The baton’s arrival is part of its 388-day long journey across Commonwealth territories to reach its final destination in Australia, the host country of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The ceremonial relay began on Main Street, Georgetown, with President David Granger carrying the baton from State House to Main and Quamina streets, where Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo received it. The Head of State was accompanied by President of the Guyana Olympic Association K.A. Juman Yassin.
Other dignitaries who received the baton at various locations in the city included Minister of Education Nicolette Henry, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Sydney Allicock, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Barton Scotland, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green and members of the diplomatic community.
The baton is expected to be taken to Kaieteur Falls in the Potaro-Siparuni Region (Region Eight) today, after which it will be taken to Surama and Annai in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region (Region Nine). The relay, which is a tradition that celebrates the diversity of the Commonwealth, carries a message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II that calls for Commonwealth athletes to come together in peaceful and friendly competition.
The relay started on Commonwealth Day on March 13, 2017, at the Buckingham Palace.
It will travel a journey of 388 days across Common-wealth territories, covering a total of about 230,000 km, before arriving at the final destination in Gold Coast, Australia.
