GUYANA is a land of many waters; a land of six races, a country with approximately 400 islands. Our people swim in rivers, trenches and fresh water creeks. The more privileged citizens swim in swimming pools.

Presently, the Government of Guyana under the astute leadership of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony with the unflinching support of His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo, is in the process of the construction of a first Olympic-size swimming pool.

With the completion of this facility, Guyanese swimmers will be able to train in an international-level facility, while Guyana will be able to host international swimming events. But while we make these genuine efforts, we have seen a chorus of “doomsayers” and “naysayers” who would like to derail this project. Their sole purpose is to keep sports in an under developed state.

Recent reports from Kaieteur News seem to perpetuate this view. They have even questioned why we need a pool? But they should not be asking the Government that question but the hundreds of Guyanese swimmers and thousands of persons who lobbied the Government for this facility.

The good Lord smiled on us as our three swimmers who participated in the just concluded FINA World Aquatic championships in Rome, Italy won their heats. Henk Lowe, Noelle Smith and Fabian Binns rose to the occasion and thousands of people around the World saw our Guyanese swimmers with the Golden Arrowhead fluttering in the air as the results were relayed on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and viewed by thousands of swimmers, spectators, officials and eminent personalities around the World.

Maybe because Smith is an indigenous child some people certainly could not take her success. Certainly our swimmers are very active at home and regionally.

PPP/C Government
In 1992 the Guyana Swimming Association was defunct. It was Stephanie Fraser and Collin Toppin who complained bitterly about the cost for rental of the facilities at Tower and Pegasus that made former President Janet Jagan send them to Neil Kumar the Director of Sport, who aggressively followed up and negotiated an agreement for our swimmers to swim at Castellani Pool, formerly used only for the PNC ‘Big’ Boys/Girls during their time in Government.

The swimmers have pleasant memories swimming alongside the-then President of Guyana Cheddi Jagan. Parents were motivated, Coaches were inspired, several clubs were resuscitated and the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association was again a functional National Association. Further, the Watooka Pool which was only reserved for the privileged few was opened up to the clubs.

This generous gesture by the late President saw Guyanese swimmers being able to participate in the Goodwill Games which was dominated by Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Very quickly swimming was added to Inter Guiana Games and Guyanese swimmers were given another opportunity to showcase their talent. Hence, with these competitions our students and the very young were given the opportunity to compete internationally and represent their country.

Today, we are indeed proud to know that at the last Olympic in China we had a swimmer from Guyana and at the just concluded World Aquatic Championship in Rome, Italy our swimmers excelled.

Construction of Pool
Construction of the Olympic-size Swimming Pool has started and is scheduled to be completed by mid-2010.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony chairs a weekly oversight committee that monitors the progress of construction. This Committee is made up of all stakeholders, contractor, consultant, Guyana Swimming Association and the Ministry of Public Works.

Tremendous efforts and resources have already been dedicated towards the construction of the pool. However, there is a popular ‘Dem bai seh’ that ‘thief man nah like see he matty walk wid bag.’

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport would like to assure the public that the monies been spent on the pool is being done in a prudent manner and that we will get value for our money.

The pool will be a tremendous asset for sports in general and swimming in particular.

The pool with all its accessories will certainly compliment sportsmen and sportswomen in all disciplines in a holistic way. It must be noted that training in water is 1 000 times denser than air and it will further help for therapeutic remedy for our sports personalities in all disciplines.

Guyanese must be a proud people to know that we have a State-of-the-Art National Stadium where cricket, football, hockey and several other disciplines are run-off at the international level. The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall which Forbes Burnham dissolved as a ‘Barn’ is now a proud and highly appreciated multi-purpose indoor facility. International Basketball, volleyball, boxing, badminton, hockey, karate are only some of the disciplines that are being played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Several other facilities will be completed to facilitate International tournaments. This PPP/C government is undoubtedly doing the necessary things to make our sportsmen and sportswomen more comfortable than they were.

Guyanese will certainly count their achievements and improved facilities under the PPP/C and compare it with pride as against what we had under Colonial rule and PNC Paramountcy. Let us as one people work for greater successes in our country. Our people need to recognise sport for recreation, leisure, amateur and professional sport. Sport is a must; it brings joy, happiness and success in life.

The Swimming Pool will be a sport facility that will certainly make our swimming fraternity feel happy. Our people must rally together for its reality. The ‘doomsayers’ washed their mouth against the Guyana National Stadium; however, today we have a State-of-the-Art facility. We will have an Olympic Size Swimming Pool in 2010.