News

The Ministry of Education, Youth Sports, Agriculture and Lands (MEYSAL) announced it will suspend the current staging of Inter-primary Track and Field Championships which hosted the preliminary heats today and was set to stage the finals tomorrow, Friday, March 13. The preliminary heats were primarily comprised of student athletes and officials with the majority of event participants expected for the finale event tomorrow.

“As new developments arise in relation to how we can all better prepare ourselves for the COVID-19 Coronavirus, my team of professionals are quickly responding and adapting. The postponement of this event is the result of a deliberate, proactive and responsible action that we have taken to keep our children safe,” assured the Minister responsible for Education and Sports, Honourable Juliana O’Connor-Connolly.

Health authorities have issued advisories promoting COVID-19 control and prevention measures of which MEYSAL are committed to upholding. Social gatherings of thousands of children, teachers, parents and guardians at this point, are not in the best interest of the public.

Ms. O’Connor-Connolly added, “As educators we are also childcare practitioners who have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of our children. Our approach is fully child centered, therefore prompt action must be taken to ensure all children have the greatest likelihood of operating in the safest possible environment and maintaining the best of health no matter the inconvenience or the cost.”

The Inter-Primary Track and Field Championships is a culmination of all local primary schools (government and private) competing in a variety of athletic games. While today’s heat event primarily hosted the athletes and officials, tomorrow’s championship finals anticipated the participation of up to 4000 event participants. This manifest of stakeholders comprises student athletes, teachers, officials, support staff and spectators. Education officials will inform the public of the newly scheduled date.