Belize braces for CODICADER suspension

A team of young athletes is destined for Honduras in the weeks ahead to represent the Jewel in the Under-fifteen CODICADER games.  Their attendance however, does not exempt Belize from facing sanctions in the near future, since the outing had been scheduled ahead of government’s recent announcement that it cannot afford to host the Disability Games in October.  As we reported on Monday, an invitation has been formally extended to the National Sports Council to participate in the approaching tournament which commences on August twentieth in Tegucigalpa.  While Belize is fielding a team and all expectations are that we will do well in the competition, Deon Sutherland maintains that a possible suspension is not entirely out of the picture.

Deon Sutherland, Board Member, NSC

Deon Sutherland

“There’s three categories of CODICADER, the U-13, the U-15 and the U-17, and the disability is actually four.  We are scheduled to host the disability games which would have been done in October, but the U-15 games comes up in Honduras in August.  We could not or will not be able to host the disability games in October, but since we had poised to attend the U-15 games a letter was sent to CODICADER by the minister expressing our inability to host the disability games.  However, they have made a decision that we will be able to participate in the U-15 games since that is in August and then at a later meeting, at a subsequent meeting will determine what will happen in terms of the hosting.”

Isani Cayetano

“Is it to say then that the idea of a suspension is still not off the table since we have expressed our inability to host the games in October?  Is it that a sanction can still be placed on Belize?”

Deon Sutherland

“Well we are hoping that that is not done, but like you said, it’s not off the table because you have to wait until the meeting in August and then they will, the CODICADER executive will then make a determination.  It will either be the executive or when the ministers meet, whenever that is.  So it’s not off the table but we’re hoping for the best.”