Ramson Jnr., a key player in the future of sports

—Says Peter Abdool

Charles Ramson Jnr.
Charles Ramson Jnr.

President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) Peter Abdool says new minister with responsibility for sports, Charles Ramson Jnr., is a key player in the industry moving forward.

“With respect to the new Minister of Sport (he) is actually very well placed as it is. In fact, (he is) a key factor in the general outlook of all sports, not just boxing, for the immediate and mid-term future,” Abdool told Stabroek Sports in a wide ranging interview.

Abdool said that he was heartened by the way the new minister has commenced his duties.

Peter Abdool

“The new minister, from the time of his appointment, has made some very significant pronouncements that appear to deviate substantially from the thinking of his predecessor,” he said.

“Firstly, he has publicly embraced the already globally established fact that sports can become, in any economy, a significant revenue and foreign exchange earner,” said Abdool adding…“That major sporting events are revenue earners and bring attention and marketability to the country.

Abdool said sports for the longest while has been marginalized.

“The minister seems to be aware of a fact long established by the heads of sporting organizations in Guyana and one that we have learnt to live with – that  in the past sports had been relegated to an almost insignificant status and given only  the attention and the funding consistent with that marginalized status. From his remarks, the minister seems determined to correct this and his encouraging vision for improvement has now been matched by the government’s significant budgetary increases dedicated to the sector for the rehabilitation and acquisition of sporting facilities in keeping with the minister’s vision, a demonstrated commitment, as it were, to what appears to be a complete reversal of attitudes to sports and the development of our young athletes,” the GBBC boss added.

Abdool said that he was heartened by newspaper reports which seemed to indicate a new birth for sports in Guyana so to speak.

“Newspaper reports of meetings of various sporting organizations with the minister, all seem to indicate a rejuvenated enthusiasm emanating from the leadership of these organizations. Clearly we are buoyed by the minister’s visible efforts and government’s budgetary commitment to those efforts.”

Abdool said the oil and gas boom has quite rightly raised expectations of greater capital being invested in sport.

“Whilst the country has been quagmired in economic decline in the traditional sectors, it is also seeing simultaneous and expected growth in the oil and energy sector. The last few months have shown an influx of capital investment in Guyana. These indications of economic resurgence, in combination with the minister’s stated objectives, herald well for the future of sports. This includes professional boxing.  In particular the areas of focus in boxing to encourage growth and momentum should begin at the amateur level.

“In anticipation of the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions to the point where we are able to box again, i.e. the gyms are able to continue training and that some competitions are able to resume, the following must be achieved relatively quickly:

 1.       All established amateur gyms and indeed any of the community centres that serve as boxing gyms should be refurbished and properly equipped with immediacy. A concerted effort should me made to re-establish gyms and/or strengthen gyms in outlying communities.

2     All scheduled amateur events and competitions whether local or otherwise should be budgeted to ensure run offs and participation.

3. Discussion should be held with AIBA and the Olympics association to establish levels of funding budgeted by these organizations for amateur boxing.

4.       The GBBC, once projected start up dates are established, will revisit its relationships with trusted sponsors and seek to encourage new sponsorship agreements from the numerous new business entities in Guyana to support the sport and the rich heritage of boxing successes.

 5.       The board will also revisit its activities of identifying potential young promoters and managers to become involved with young fighters and work at encouraging such relationships.

 6. The professional board, at least for a short term or until young promoters are in place, will begin once again to promote Pro-Am cards. The board’s established and still very relevant goodwill with larger local corporate entities, local broadcasters, the amateur board, the boxing community and what appears to be a much more receptive minister intends to put in place in time for the return to normalcy from Covid restrictions, a Pro-Am programme for regular competition for both aspects of the sport to encourage spectator return to the sport. In turn this will generate the activity required to help sustain the gyms and encourage the boxing community to return to the commitment of finding Olympic glory and winning more professional world titles.

 1.      We recognize that the minister has no obligation to support professional boxing and indeed we have asked for very little help over the years. The government’s support for amateur boxing given the foregoing, is the most essential element in the development of both formats of the sport so that principally our first position is support for Mr. Ninvalle and his board to receive all of the assistance and funding that they have requested at ground level.

 2.     Whilst our organization will continue the usual financing activities that drive professional boxing which usually emanate from the private sector, we will ask from time to time for government assistance on a one-off basis for individual card or events. The minister’s very clear recognition of the importance of large sporting events and his references to sports tourism strongly suggests the future could see government and private partnerships for large mutually beneficial events and I hope that promoters have noted the minister’s comments. We intend to meet with the minister shortly for further discussion on precisely this as at least one world title is currently in the making and there are requests for other cards as there are a few interested and excited promoters awaiting the lifting of Covid restrictions as we have already established that the resources to create a six-week bubble to box during the pandemic i.e. lockdown gym, hotel, arena facilities etc.; are simply not available in Guyana.

 “The GBBC’s wish list beyond our great desire for minister’s support to the amateur board from the minister is short and simple:

1)    A covered (from rain) indoor facility that can hold several thousand spectators and which has uplink international capability imperative to the success of major boxing events. With such a facility the GBBC has developed over many years the synergies and relationships necessary to make Guyana the center for international boxing in the region i.e. a preferred relationship with the World Boxing Council, the Commonwealth board, access to all boxers in the Caribbean Latin America region and further afield, strong connections to global promoters, professional and proven capability to regulate World class events, access to regional broadcast networks.

 “The securing of such a facility will immediately mitigate the principal risk associated with promoting international boxing events in Guyana

 2)    Assistance if it is available to upgrade the board’s ring, lighting and broadcasting equipment to world standards.

 3)    Consideration on a per occurrence basis for government participation (Ministry of Sport and Ministry of Tourism) in government and private partnerships for large mutually beneficial international boxing events.

 “The minister and I have already spoken and we will meet him officially probably within the next week or so at a point where I am able to give him a bit more information on a major international proposed boxing event for Guyana which is currently under discussion and where he might himself have a better indication of Covid considerations going forward,” Abdool ended.