Carifta Swimming Championships Postponed as Covid-19 Infections Increase

Photo: Mike Greenwell announcing at the 2019 Carifta Swimming championships

Hopes in the sporting world have been dashed once more as the 2021 Carifta Swimming Championship which was scheduled for March 26 – April 7 in Barbados, have been postponed as a result of covid-19.

In a letter to stakeholders, the president of the Barbados Aquatic Sports Association (BASA) Cheryl, Lady Forde stated the decision was taken by executives “to postpone Carifta 2021 after a review of the current covid-19 situation in Barbados and by extension, in the region.”

This is following a two-week lockdown order that was given in Barbados by Prime Minister Mia Mottley after a rise of covid-19 infections on the island, including three confirmed cases of the new strain and three deaths within one week.

With no new date being mentioned in the letter, Forde said it would be decided after the lockdown that should come to an end on February 17, 2021, after they have met with the Covid-19 Monitoring Unit.

She lamented that “in absence of a vaccine…the general spiking of covid-19 cases in neighboring countries and changing travel protocols locally and in a number of our neighboring countries, it was agreed that it would be prudent to postpone this regional competition at this time.”

While many are disappointed about the turn of events, Forde guaranteed this was the best decision that could have been made, given the circumstances.

“We regret the inconvenience this will cause but we believe we have given consideration to the importance of keeping everyone safe in this very difficult environment.”

This new postponement is not the first in the Carifta camp. The Carifta Games, an Olympic qualifying meet which was expected to be held in April 2020 in Barbados was postponed as a result of an outbreak of the virus and approval was only given in November last year.

Forde assured all who were affected that they will have updated information before or by the end of February, and that she looks forward to working along with the various stakeholders to make Carifta 2021 a reality.