TO ALL FUSIONITES, STAKEHOLDERS, CORPORATE SPONSORS, MEMBERS OF THE LOPINOT COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.
In light of the events that transpired on the 13th May, 2021 during the Celebration of the National Holiday of Eid al-Fitr and the national debate thereafter, we are compelled to set the record straight in an attempt to address the misinformation bandied about by the Media, the Commissioner of Police and some members of the wider public.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) in their earliest Media Release on the morning of 13th May, 2021 indicated that following the report of concerned members of the Lopinot Community, they encountered a group of hikers led by a Mr. Michael Rampat leader of a group called Fusion Hikers. The police interviewed Mr. Rampat and he indicated that a group hike was organised prior to the lockdown but was subsequently cancelled prior to that day. The TTPS stated that persons were asked to disperse in groups of no more than 5 which they complied with free from incident.
A newspaper report and an online article dated 14th May, 2021 and written by Peter Christopher was posted by Guardian Media Limited and its subsidiary Guardian Newspaper or Trinidad Guardian. The article incorrectly stated that Mr Michael Rampat is the leader of Fusion Adventures. The Commissioner of Police joined the fray and compounded the misinformation by publicly stating that Fusion Adventures held an event at Lopinot where 60 persons would have gathered in breach of the Public Health Regulations and that the leaders of our organisation should be charged. Thereafter, some media houses perpetuated the falsehood by publishing this misinformation via their respective media platforms.
For the record, FUSION ADVENTURES LTD IS NOT AFFILIATED with MR. MICHAEL RAMPAT nor his organisation FUSION HIKERS, NOR DID WE HAVE ANY HIKE CARDED FOR MAY 13TH 2021.
Fusion Adventures is a Competitive Racing organisation that has hosted a number of Internationally renowned Competitive Team and Individual Racing events. Fusion Adventures has not hosted a Live event since the outbreak of the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020. The last live event was held in April 2019.
With the easing of the Public Health regulations last year allowing individual exercise, Team Fusion launched the Fusion Adventures 7 Series in November, which has been an ongoing virtual event for the past 6 months. The virtual race format allowed individuals to complete a predetermined course any day and any time during a specific month and they could post their individual times by means of a virtual app, which would be compiled on a virtual competitors board at the end of the month. As such the virtual race is not an event for a specific day and has not and does not promote any assembly in contravention of established protocols.
For the Month of May, a 12km course was prepared in Lopinot and persons had to complete same during this timeframe. To further ensure adherence to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, the period for completion of the course was extended to six weeks. Meaning that persons could go any day and any time during a six week period to complete the course. We categorically deny that a race event or a hike was hosted or carded for the 13th May, 2021 by FUSION ADVENTURES.
Our virtual application data indicates that on the morning of the 13th of May 2021, twenty-five (25) persons individually at various times went to attempt the course in Lopinot. These persons would have started and thus recorded completion times ranging from 2hrs 7mins to 6 hrs 7mins. The time difference spread is 4 hours over 12km. Individuals started the course at different times and it is evident from the completion times that they did not complete together in groups and by inference were not members of Fusion Hikers.
We reiterate that MR. MICHAEL RAMPAT OF FUSION HIKERS who was interviewed by the TTPS was coincidentally in Lopinot for his organisation’s hiking event which is in no way associated with Fusion Adventures nor the Fusion Adventures Virtual Racing Series.
Fusion Adventures has always informed persons to adhere to the directives of the Ministry of Health and to obey the laws of Trinidad and Tobago as stated on our website. Out of our primary concern for our Fusion Adventures Community, Stakeholders, the Community of Lopinot and the wider public, we have postponed our Fusion Virtual Racing Series indefinitely. This action is to further avoid the misconception and misinformation that Fusion Adventures was associated with any event in breach of the Public Health Regulations held by other similarly named organisations. Fusion Adventures has always actively supported the directives of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and will continue to do this.