Dear Editor,
Darts for some is not a sport, but a game, yet the interest in darts have grown significantly, not only in Guyana, but the rest of the world, especially in the UK. For many years, Guyana has been represented and placed on the world stage of darts, regionally and internationally with little or no acknowledgment from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. Recently, the Golden Arrowhead was flying high in Chile as the Guyanese emphatically surpassed their opponents in the qualifiers of the Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean (CDLC). Norman Madhoo, pipping Sudesh Fitzgerald in the qualifiers, is now qualified to participate in the PDC World Darts Championship to be held in London, UK.
Editor, while the Golden Arrowhead was flying in Chile, the success achieved was solely at the expense of the Guyanese contingent who worked hard through fundraisers integrated with few sponsorship to ensure their participation. Without any moral and financial support from the Guyana Darts Association and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, it has to be disappointing and frustrating for the people who are placing Guyana on the world stage of Darts. With the absence of support from both Guyana Darts Association and the Ministry, I won’t be surprised if Norman Madhoo is forced to forfeit the opportunity to represent the entire Latin America and the Caribbean at this mega event to be held in the UK.
Darts is a sport and recognised as such in all darts playing countries and it would be prudent that the Ministry play an active part in supporting and encouraging recognition of this sport. I wish to call on the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports to work closely with the Guyana Darts Association to eradicate the barriers that are impeding our athletes.
Sincerely,
Mustafaa Azimullah
