Sport Minister lauds efforts of Malteenoes Sports Club executives
Executives of the Malteenoes Sports Club pose at yesterday’s ceremony. From left are: Malteenoes vice-president Deobrah McNicol, Claude Raphael, Dr Anthony, Mark Harper, Neil Barry and long-time club member Terry Pemberton. (Delano Williams photo)
Executives of the Malteenoes Sports Club pose at yesterday’s ceremony. From left are: Malteenoes vice-president Deobrah McNicol, Claude Raphael, Dr Anthony, Mark Harper, Neil Barry and long-time club member Terry Pemberton. (Delano Williams photo)

MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony yesterday showered praise on the work the executives of the Malteenoes Sports Club have been doing over the past years.Speaking at a simple ceremony yesterday morning, Dr Anthony said Malteenoes is the first of many clubs to be given a government grant to enhance its facilities and the executives have utilised it well. He further stated that over the past few years, his ministry and the club have developed a relationship that is bonding.

Yesterday’s ceremony was the official handing-over ceremony of a brush cutter with all its components to the club.
The brush cutter was donated to the club by its former members now residing in New York, USA and was the initiative of former president and life member of the club Claude Raphael.
However, having been shipped to Guyana, the club needed much assistance to clear it through Customs and this is where the Ministry’s assistance was sought.
According to Dr Anthony, the club’s president, Neil Barry, made contact with him and requested his ministry’s assistance with this aspect.
Minister Anthony said while his ministry had never dealt with such a situation before, he promised to see what he can do and eventually the deal was done.
“We at the Ministry are very pleased to work with the club. They have been doing a very good job, especially with their youth development programme They started a drive to improve their infrastructure and have done a lot with the little money they got from the Ministry and they send us photographs to show us what they are doing,” Dr Anthony said.
The Minister said other clubs across the country have also been given grants to improve their facilities, but only those that have been doing well with the little money will be able to access a second or third grant.
“We at the Ministry are willing to work with clubs that are helping themselves,” he declared.
Club president Barry in his short address thanked the Ministry of Sport for its assistance in getting duty-free concession.
He also thanked the former club members in New York for donating the brush butter which is already in use.
Raphael, in response, said he is happy and elated with the club’s former members’ donation of the equipment as it will be of tremendous benefit to the club.
According to Raphael, the club started its youth development programme 31 years ago and its current president and former national wicketkeeper Barry was a product of the programme.
He said currently, the club is engaging in attracting youths from the surrounding area as well as children attending schools nearby such as St Joseph, Richard Ishmael, North Georgetown Secondary and Tutorial High among others.
Raphael thanked the government of Guyana and especially Dr Anthony and his ministry for their assistance.

(By Michael DaSilva)

 

 

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