The National COVID-19 Task Force and the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) must both accept responsibility and blame for the flagrant breach of agreement on Sunday during round one of the Drag Race Championship at the South Dakota Circuit.
The Task Force granted permission for the club to host the event to cater for 1500 persons inclusive of competitors and fans but it turned into a potential disastrous ‘super spreader’ for the coronavirus as more than double that amount of persons were allowed unimpeded through gates.
Being quite generous, according to reports, in excess of 4000 persons thronged the circuit.
Director of the Task Force, Colonel Nazrul Hussain, stated that the GMR&SC was in breach of the agreement, noting that the event can be classified as a “super spreader” as “thousands of persons” were at the venue.
With several pictures and videos circulating on social media, many persons wondered how could the club act so recklessly to allow thousands of persons to throng the venue during ongoing the pandemic.
But the Task Force, which suspended all activities of the club on Sunday indefinitely, is not blameless in any of this.
Everyone who has not been living under a rock knows that motorsport events locally always attract massive crowds. Hence, how could the Task Force not see it fit to have personnel at the point of entry to ensure that no more than 1500 persons entered?
One may ask the question, how could the Task Force even consider granting permission for 1500 persons, many mask-less and shoulder-to-shoulder to just watch cars race on a strip but national athletes cannot simply scrimmage or spar or practice among themselves.
One person from the Horse Racing fraternity who spoke under the condition anonymity stated that even though proposals were made to host events behind closed doors, their requests were denied on both occasions.
A member of the rugby union complained that they have been trying to get permission to host a tag rugby tournament for weeks but continue to get the royal run around.
It is quite evident that there is a double standard and an absence of expertise.
While several territories within the Region have found ways to make successful returns to sport, Guyana is still struggling in that regard because we simply lack the competence.
Other associations who have received the green light to restart their sporting activities have also complained that before hosting a competition, they have to seek the permission of the Task Force on every occasion.
In my opinion, instead of asking individual associations/federations to come up with plans every time a competition is to be hosted, it is better for templates to be set developed by the relevant authorities and ask the bodies to conform to them.
It is imperative that the successful return to hosting sporting activities be led by those in authority as opposed to them acting as a regulatory body with sporting associations left to develop plans and seek their own expert advice. Bottom line, the National COVID-19 Task Force should be applauded for most of the work done since being assembled, however the members must also accept blame when they drop the ball.
