The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has taken a significant step towards strengthening Paralympic sport in Guyana, partnering with Commonwealth Sport through its GAPS (Gather, Adjust, Prepare, Sustain) training programme.
As part of this initiative, Alque Stanley, a lecturer at Cyril Potter College of Education, and Anjalena Veerasammy Beshpatty, founder of the “Sameir Uniquely Me” Foundation for children with Autism, were selected to participate in the 2025 Commonwealth Sports GAPS Americas & Caribbean Jamaica Paralympic training Camp for para-athletics development.
The camp was held in Jamaica from July 21-26, 2025.
Their participation marks a strategic shift in the GOA’s approach to Paralympic development.
The focus is now on empowering and developing a cadre of trained personnel from within the differently abled community.
These individuals will be equipped to lead, coordinate, and support inclusive and sustainable sporting initiatives for differently abled persons across Guyana.
This strategy envisions forming a core group of key individuals, leaders, coordinators, and advocates from within the Paralympic community.
These individuals will form the backbone of Guyana’s Paralympic development efforts.
By participating in the GAPS Programme, Stanley and Beshpatty gained the training, mentorship, and resources necessary to:
Develop inclusive sport programmes in schools, institutions, and communities.
Support national federations with trained resource personnel.
Drive participation and performance at local, regional, and international levels.
Coordinate efforts with government agencies and civil society for greater reach and impact.
The GOA’s Executive Committee has actively begun engaging with key stakeholders as part of this new direction.
These include the Ministry of Education’s Special Education Needs Department, the Ministry of Health, the National Commission on Disability, and the Cyril Potter College of Education, among others.
The aim is to foster collaborative input and secure support for a more inclusive development framework.
This effort aligns with the GOA’s commitment to fulfilling key mandates within the Olympic Charter, promoting inclusion, and supporting the achievement of the Millennium Sustainable Development Goals (MSDGs).
It also signals a move away from past reliance on able-bodied coaches, towards building a sustainable, community-driven ecosystem led by those with lived experience.
“The GAPS Programme offers us a rare and transformative opportunity to reset our national approach to Paralympic sport development, developing leaders who understand the challenges and can drive meaningful change,” said Godfrey Munroe, President of the Guyana Olympic Association.
“By empowering voices and leaders from within the differently-abled community from which national sporting bodies can support and align with, we are promoting not just inclusivity, but authenticity and sustainability.
The GOA envisions this initiative as a cornerstone in a broader national movement where para-sport becomes integral to Guyana’s sporting identity, offering hope, opportunity, and empowerment to all.”
The GAPS Programme, a flagship initiative of Commonwealth Sport, is conducted yearly.
It provides an integrated training platform to develop para-athletes, coaches, and sport administrators, offering tailored resources, education, and mentorship to enhance participants’ capabilities in fostering inclusion, excellence, and long-term development in their respective countries.
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