The new gym is located in Mora Street where Carryl lived before he migrated to the USA, some decades ago.

Guyana’s first world champion, Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis, was impressed with the effort and attended the opening ceremony though uninvited.

“I’m very proud to visit Linden to give support. Without support, you cannot get a future,” Lewis said after he was invited to the head table and asked to make impromptu remarks.

Regional Field Officer within the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport, Ivan Persaud, represented Minister Gail Teixeira.

“This is one of the greatest venture to happen to Linden and to Guyana as a whole,” Persaud said.

Persaud said he was impressed with the team that worked to make the gym a reality because two days prior to the opening, the place was not like it was at the launching.

The former national footballer who holds a degree in physical education from a Colombian university, urged sportsmen to turn to scientific methods when deciding to go into a particular sport discipline and in training.

Persaud also called on parents to get involved in the activities of their sons who might take up boxing.

Carryl disclosed that the boxing body he helped to form, the Upper Demerara Amateur Boxing Association (UDABA) now had a joint partnership with the Linden Sports Foundation to promote sports in the mining town.

The former boxer again reiterated that boxing was not as dangerous as many people make it out to be, pointing out that football had more dangers.

“A skilled and trained boxer hardly gets hit. My job is to make it safer for the kids,” Carryl declared.

Carryl called on the business sector, the government, community and families of the boxers to cooperate to make the gym a success.

“This community has a lot of negativity that is failing the community,” Carryl declared.

The boxing enthusiast said he was using boxing as a way of reaching young people, thus preparing them to meet the real demands of life.

“I want to give kids an opportunity with an alternative -- an outlet. We need to encourage them. Kids are what we make them. They are like empty vessels and are filled up with what we expose them to,” Carryl said.

To the young people Carryl said: “You could become whatever you want. Don’t let anyone limit you.”

Carryl thanked sponsors Everlast, North American Airlines, Budget Car Rental and Travel Span for their input in making the venture a reality.

UDABA vice-president Roy Marshall recounted that the Mora Street Gym was embarked upon two years ago and was the second part of the gym structure to be set up throughout the country.

“But no sporting activity can reach its height without support from the business community and the government,” Marshall asserted.

The official disclosed that he wrote to several business places for assistance in staging boxing, but got no response.

Pastor Selwyn Sills chaired the proceedings and Leola Narine gave the vote of thanks.