Brigadier Omar Khan returns as National Rifle Association President

The Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) has signalled a new era of growth and inclusivity following its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Thursday at the Guyana Olympic Association conference room.

While Brigadier Omar Khan was returned unopposed to lead the association for another term, the highlight of the elections was the elevation of Basmatee Mohabeer to the position of Smallbore Vice Captain.

Mohabeer’s election marks a significant milestone as she becomes the first female in the Association’s decades-long history to hold that executive post.

The General Council for the 2026-2030 term saw a mix of continuity and fresh appointments.

Long-standing Treasurer Hemant Narine, a fixture in the GNRA’s financial management, opted not to seek re-election to the post but will remain on the council as a Committee Member.

Taking over the mantle of Treasurer is veteran marksman Lennox Braithwaite, while Lindsay Baird has been elected Assistant Secretary Treasurer.

In a move that recognised years of elite service, the membership voted unanimously to appoint Mahendra Persaud and Harold Hopkinson as Life Members.

Both men have been pillars of Guyanese shooting, representing the Golden Arrowhead at the highest international levels for several decades.

In his address, President Brigadier Omar Khan lauded the “formidable presence” of Guyanese shooters on the global stage.

Fullbore Captain Dylan Fields reported on a stellar year, headlined by the successful defence of the Long-Range Trophy at the West Indies Fullbore Championship and Peter Persaud’s clinching of the prestigious Grand Aggregate Title.

However, the report from Smallbore Captain Gordon Richards highlighted a lingering hurdle: the lack of an indoor facility since the destruction of the TSU range.

Richards emphasised that the “urgent need” for a new indoor range is critical to facilitating Olympic-style shooting disciplines, as activities are currently restricted to the outdoor ranges at Timehri.

Financially, the Association remains on steady ground, bolstered by recent high-value contributions.

The GNRA expressed formal gratitude to President Mohamed Irfaan Ali for the donation of a new bus and a tractor mower, assets expected to drastically improve logistics for maintaining the Timehri facilities.

The 2026 calendar is already packed with high-stakes competition. Guyana is set to host an English Rifle Team in late April, a tour that will serve as a precursor to the West Indies Championships in early May.

The national squad’s primary objective for the regional tournament is clear: recapturing the Short-Range Title to complete their regional dominance.

General Council Members 2026-2030: Brigadier Omar Khan (President) Col (ret’d) Enoch Gaskin (Vice President), Mahendra Persaud (Vice President), Ravindradath Budhram ( Ex Officio Vice President – Police),  Lt. Col Andy Pompey (Ex Officio Vice President – GDF), Ryan Sampson (Honorary Secretary), Lennox Braithwaite (Treasurer), Lindsay Baird (Assistant Secretary/Treasurer), Dylan Fields (Full Bore Captain), Leo Romalho (Full Bore Vice Captain), Gordon Richards (Small Bore Captain),  Basmatee Mohabeer (Small Bore Vice Captain), Hemant Narine (Committee Member), Sherwin Felicien (Committee Member), Peter Persaud (Committee Member).