By Ravendra Madholall in Toronto
Four softball cricket teams will be competing for top honor in this year’s Guyana Festival Day event at Littles ground in Scarborough, an announcement was made on Thursday.
According to the Consulate in Toronto for Guyana, the action is billed for Sunday, June 14.
After last year’s event was cancelled owing to a variety of reasons, the much-touted day-of-sports activities should be riveting on this occasion.
President of the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) Albert Ramcharran stated that two sides from the East End of Toronto will clash with two teams from the West End of Toronto to be part of the celebration as the Guyanese Diaspora in Canada will be observing its 49th Independence Anniversary.
As the OSCL three-competition (10, 15 & 20-overs) tournament bowls off on Saturday with a large number of matches across the Greater Toronto Area, players will be selected from their respective teams to make these sides.
Since the Consulate began this observance, several prominent Guyanese cricketers have graced the occasion including former West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd.
Speaking with the current Consul General for Guyana in Toronto Sattie Sawh, everything is in place for the 2015 showdown which will also have cultural shows and display of Guyana’s inheritance.
Sawh pointed out too that it was very disappointing for not holding the event in 2014 since they could not have got a suitable venue to run off it.
She candidly mentioned that the behaviors of the people from the previous occasions were also responsible for last year’s no-show.
“It was indeed disappointing for not having the Guyana Festival Day last year and one of the main reasons was due to our people’s negligence on previous events with their ‘bad’ behaviors like using alcohol etc, but hopefully we can have a better outing this time,” Sawh related.
She disclosed that the Guyana Festival Committee has started to work feverishly to make this year’s event a success and without any disturbance and not to carry alcohol beverages into the facility.
In 2013, the event was held at Centennial College ground in Scarborough.
David Adams who is the Chairman for the Guyana Festival Committee could not have reached for comment but Executive Officer for the Guyana Consulate in Toronto Clyde Gulliver was highly optimistic of a wonderful event. Gulliver is one of the organizers on the Committee.
“Things have been progressing nicely so far with our planning and I can assure our Guyanese in Toronto we will have a great day,” Gulliver declared.
With the 2015 PanAm Games scheduled to commence July 10 in Toronto, Guyanese should also get the opportunity to be involved and to exhibit their talents as well, according to Gulliver.
“PanAm Games will not have cricket matches but Guyanese athletes should take part and we want to contribute in some way along the line to have our anniversary recognized at this world’s stage event,” Gulliver explained.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, June 13, Gulliver informed that soccer teams will be on show before the final taking place the next day. The cricket fixtures will also be similar.