The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, played a pivotal role in assisting two CARIFTA athletes and medalists, Adriel Austin, and Anisha Gibbons, in securing two year scholarships at colleges in the United States of America by partially funding the aforementioned studentships.
The scholarships were the realisation of a promise made by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr to the 2022 CARIFTA Games athletes, following their return from Jamaica in April.
Gold medalist in the javelin, Gibbons, will attend New Mexico Junior College, while 800 metre bronze medalist Austin will attend Hinds Community College.
Minister Ramson Jr during brief remarks at the announcement ceremony staged at the Ministry’s Main Street headquarters, said, “We have not done a lot of the public engagement about this because I don’t like to make it seem we are doing this to given the Ministry more credit because I know how important this is to you [athletes].”
Ramson Jr further disclosed that his portfolio provides the avenue for the development of the country’s human resource, which is of importance on a personal level, adding, “On behalf of his Excellency and the Government of Guyana and the people of Guyana, we want to say that we are so proud of you and wish you all the best.”
Similarly, Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, during brief remarks stated that the realisation of the scholarships via the partial funding of the Ministry, highlights the commitment of the Minister to development of the country’s athletes.
Meanwhile, Gibbons said, “It is like a dream come through. When I came back from CARIFTA in 2019, this was on my mind all of the time. I just wanted to attend a school where I can better myself academically and also improve in athletics.” Similarly, Austin thanked the Minister for his invaluable contribution in making her dream a reality which is geared towards improving her overall development.
On the other hand, both mothers of the athletes thanked the Ministry and the NSC for their invaluable contribution.
And Linda Johnny, the mother of Gibbons, thanked the ministry for their invaluable contribution, adding, “I am very proud of my daughter; I just want her to go and do what she is supposed to do and make Guyana proud.”
Likewise, Austin’s mother, Joylyn Beaton, echoed similar sentiments, noting that the scholarship affords her daughter the opportunity to develop both athletically and academically.
