The 4th Annual General Meeting of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation, was held at the Grand Costal Inn on Friday 16th February, 2018. Members were given the opportunity to discuss the activities and plans at the AGM which was hosted and chaired by Vice-President Mr. Mohamed Khan.
Outgoing President of the G.S.S.F., Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon reflected on her Presidency and stated in her address to the Membership “In 2014 I stood here amongst you to thank you for entrusting me to assume the Presidency of what promised to be a ground-breaking progressive sporting entity: the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation. And here I am now expressing my gratitude to all of you for making the past 4 years absolutely phenomenal. Since 2014, we've faced our fair share of challenges, and come through them stronger and even more ground-breaking for Guyana. That is because we have never let go of a belief that has guided us ever since our founding — our conviction that, together, we can change sport shooting and the concept of sport shooting in this country and take it to a whole new higher level.”
The President went on to deliver a comprehensive Report on the 2017 activities of the GSSF including affiliation to local and international bodies. She also touched on key topics such as general firearm safety, increased membership growth, continuous monthly training courses, the various sport shooting disciplines currently encompassed, increased nominations at the national sports awards, donations made, general outreach to supporting agencies, shooting range access, support programs and the ongoing development of the sport of shooting in Guyana.
A short presentation was then made by Director of Sport, Mr. Christopher Jones on behalf of the GSSF to several junior and adult members. This presentation was to distribute several free membership cards to the Amateur Trapshooting Association, an international affiliate of the GSSF.
The activities of a local GSSF affiliate, Archery Guyana, was also reported on. It was reported that Guyana’s Archery Developmental plan which was completed in 2017 was shared with the World Archery Foundation, and this enabled Guyana to be shortlisted as eligible to receive “Level 1” equipment donations from the world governing body for the sport of Archery. Archery Guyana is in the process of finalising the equipment selection and it is hoped that the processing for the kit to be sent to Guyana will occur in early 2018. Archery Guyana’s activities continue to be published in the World Archery Americas’ monthly bulletins which are shared internationally.
It was noted that it continues to be extremely disappointing that a request for affiliation made to the Guyana Olympic Association since 2014 for the Olympic sport of Archery is still pending. Despite numerous reminders and attempts over the past years to engage the GOA, together with facilitating the provision of documentation directly from the sport’s Swiss based governing body the World Archery Foundation reconfirming Guyana’s position as a legitimate affiliate there has been no positive response to the affiliation request.
Mrs. Persaud-McKinnon went on to say that information received from several key and supportive personalities in the national sports administrative circle pointed out that there were many concerns raised about the name of the GSSF and this was the hinderance to the affiliation to the local National Olympic Committee which is the GOA.
As such the local archers nevertheless took steps to once again start over the process for affiliation to the NOC, to move the sport forward in Guyana. This effort saw the establishment of an independent entity, duly registered as “Archery Guyana” which then made a fresh application/request for membership and affiliation to the GOA, but alas the silence continues to be deafening from the decision makers at the GOA….. A silence which continues to stifle further development in Guyana, as it relates to one of the first Olympic sports (Archery) for which Guyana is known to be teeming with talent.
The positive support from the National Sports Commission has been extraordinary in so many ways just to highlight a single strikingly important aspect is the ability to be able to access to the various sporting facilities. In this regard thanks are expressed to the NSC and to the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones.
Friday evening, also featured the presentation of an Appreciation Award which was bestowed upon one of the members whose selfless energy and dedication towards GSSF is unmatched. This person has been dedicated towards firearms safety, training and range discipline. Mr. Ryan McKinnon received the GSSF’s Annual Appreciation Award from Director of Sport, Mr. Christopher Jones.
The Report of the External Auditors along with the Financial Statement of the GSSF was presented by the Foundation’s internal auditor, Mr. Jagmohan Bassoo to the membership and this was duly adopted at the AGM. The External Audit of the Financial Statement was duly conducted and issued by Auditor, Mr. Harryram Parmesar from the Parmesar Audit Firm.
Another significant aspect of the AGM was the motions which totaled six which were unanimously carried. One of which generated a lot of discussion related to the GSSF’s Name change. The motion was duly passed to effect a change in the name, from Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation Inc., to Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation Inc.
The Returning Officer appointed, Mr. Christopher Jones, Director of Sport duly declared the board and positions therein vacant and commenced elections for a new Board of Directors of the GSSF.
Following the transparent electoral process, the members listed below were duly elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation for the term 2018 to 2020 as announced and ratified by the Returning Officer, Mr. Christopher Jones.
Members of the Board of Directors for the period 2018-2020 are:
President Mr. Ryan McKinnon
Vice-President Mr. Mohamed Khan
Secretary Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon
Treasurer Mr. Ray Beharry
Assistant Secretary and Treasurer Mr. Andrew Phang
Chairman (Steel Challenge) Dr. Pravesh Harry
Chairman (Practical Shooting) Mr. David Dharry
Chairman (Archery) Mr. Nicholas Hing
Chairman (Trapshooting) Mr. Aleemul Ali
Internal Auditor Mr. Steve Ninvalle
Thanks were expressed to the following persons who assisted in one way or the other for 2017: The Honourable Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of Public Security, Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, Minister George Norton, Minister of Social Cohesion, Minister Nicolette Henry, Minister of Education, Director of Sport, Mr. Christopher Jones, National Sports Commission, Chief of Staff, Brig. Patrick West, Guyana Defence Force, Lt. Col. Doodnauth, GDF, Mr. Ryan McKinnon, Infotrans Guyana Inc, Neutrino Inc., Mr. Julius Simon, Commisioner General Mr. Godfrey Statia, the Guyana Revenue Authority, Mr. Hakeem Mohamed, Mr. Mohamed Qualander, Queensway, Asst. Commissioner Mr. David Ramnarine, Mr. Gerard Mekdeci, JT Mekdeci & Co., Dr. Bhiro Harry, GPF Commander Marlon Chapman, GPF OC TSU Superintendent Denhert, GPF Senior Superintendent Guy Nurse, Woodpecker Products, Queensway Security Service Inc., Mr. Tamesh Jagmohan, El Dorado Trading, Mr. Bish Panday and Mr. Vikash Panday, Directors of P&P Insurance and Consultants Ltd., Publik Burger House, Mr. Harryram Parmesar, Parmesar Accounting Firm, Mr. Mokesh Daby, management and staff of Grand Coastal Inn Inc., The Media, The G.S.S.F. Members and the Board of the G.S.S.F.
In picture below: Newly elected President Mr. Ryan McKinnon delivering his remarks.
(In picture below: Newly elected Board of Directors pose with the Director of Sport, Mr. Christopher Jones. From left to right: Mr. Aleemul Ali, Mr. Nicholas Hing, Mr. Mohamed Khan, Director Christopher Jones, Mr. Ryan McKinnon, Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, Mr. Andrew Phang, Mr. David Dharry and Dr. Pravesh Harry)
