GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) took a decisive step toward reshaping the region’s sporting future this past weekend, convening its XIII Annual Workshop and XXIII General Assembly in Guyana.
The two-day gathering, staged at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre, brought together more than 100 delegates from 28 nations, united under the theme “Charting the Future of Authentic Caribbean Sport.”
A regional vision takes center stage
The summit served as both a strategic think tank and a call to action, underscoring the shared determination of Caribbean nations to modernize governance, deepen collaboration, and drive long-term sustainability in sport. With representatives spanning the length and breadth of the Caribbean, the assembly reflected CANOC’s growing influence as a platform for regional cooperation and leadership in global sport.
Guyana’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., delivered an impassioned address, urging participants to embrace unity as the engine of progress.
“When the Caribbean collaborates, we accelerate,” Ramson Jr. declared. “Hosting CANOC here in Georgetown is about building capacity, trust, and a shared future for sport.”
He described the event as a “significant opportunity” for nations to exchange expertise, strengthen institutional capacity, and align development goals to lift the region’s sporting standards collectively.
Strengthening governance and building capacity
Day one of the workshop delved deeply into the mechanics of reform and modernization, opening with a pivotal session on the CANOC–University of the West Indies (UWI) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This partnership aims to craft a comprehensive roadmap for sport education and capacity building, empowering future leaders and administrators with the tools to elevate regional performance.
Another major highlight came from Sandra Osborne, SCM, SC, who led discussions on the ongoing CANOC Incorporation process, a move intended to solidify the organization’s legal and institutional structure for greater autonomy and effectiveness.
In addition, the CANOC/Deloitte Partnership presented insights into financial governance and sustainability standards, underscoring the need for fiscal discipline, transparency, and innovation in resource management.
Pushing toward transparency and accountability
The Georgetown summit followed on the heels of an Olympic Solidarity Financial Management Workshop, an initiative designed to reinforce CANOC’s commitment to financial integrity and accountability among its member National Olympic Committees (NOCs). Together, the two gatherings signal a decisive shift toward more professional, accountable, and globally aligned management practices within Caribbean sport.
Charting the path ahead
Beyond policy and procedure, the CANOC assembly represented a symbolic turning point — one that celebrated regional identity while embracing a collective ambition to position Caribbean sport on a larger world stage. With collaboration at its core, the workshop emphasized that the Caribbean’s greatest strength lies in unity, shared expertise, and a commitment to integrity in governance.
As the curtains closed on the Georgetown summit, one message echoed clearly through the halls of Pegasus Suites: the Caribbean is ready to lead, not follow, in the global evolution of sport.
