…No spectators, bars for sporting events
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has been granted permission to host upcoming competitions, but in keeping with the COVID-19 safety measures. The cricket matches will be played without spectators, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony disclosed Wednesday.
The Minister during his COVID-19 update with the Department of Public Information (DPI) said that the GCB has rolled out its return to regular cricket activities, including its National Over 40 Competition (Big Man Cricket Tournament) scheduled for November 22 – December 8.
“We have granted permission for cricket matches, but without spectators and along with this permission, bars at these events must be closed,” Dr. Anthony said.
If the provisions are breached, the event will be shut down immediately.
“We are very serious because these events, if not managed properly, can become super spreaders, where a lot of people congregate, get infected and spread the disease,” the Health Minister said.
The GCB’s 40 and over event will be followed by the Hand-In-Hand Under 19 Inter-Country Three-Day Competition and One Day 50 Overs Tournaments.
The Minister said too that his Ministry is working closely with various sport organisations to ensure rules are in place to minimise exposure to the disease.
Dr. Anthony revealed that the Guyana Golf Association has requested permission to host competitions, and given the nature of the sport, its reopening is possible.
Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. has said he supports the guidelines outlined for cricket.
“The Task Force is the one that gives guidance and their position and the Government’s position, given the last guidelines that we had, were that certain sport events are allowable, and the condition the Task Force has outlined is one where it’s not for spectators,”
Minister Ramson said during an interview on Kaieteur Radio last week.
Security teams will be tasked with doing random checks to ensure sport events are complying with the provisions.
