MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) Dr Frank Anthony stated that his ministry is looking to put a system in place which would see better grounds and pitches around Guyana.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Cricket Development Committee (CDC) seminar for local grounds men at the Guyana National Stadium yesterday, Dr Anthony also stated that his ministry is looking to make sports in the community stronger.

“I strongly believe that within sports, we need to do more training, as many of the sport disciplines we have, some people claim the various games are too plain. They would have experienced the game, hence they feel they have enough expertise to be involved in the various aspects of the game.

“Cricket is no exception that is why I think this workshop is very important. I would like to commend the GCB for orchestrating this programme on behalf of cricket with the collaborative effort of the management,’ Dr Anthony stated.

At the time, Dr Anthony was delivering a brief address to an audience which included president of the GCB Chetram Singh, International Cricket Council (ICC) pitch consultant Andy Atkinson, Winston Razack of Terra Forma in Trinidad and Tobago, Director of Sport Neil Kumar and vice-president of the GCB Bissoondyal Singh.

Dr Anthony further stated that it is his ministry’s intention to make dormant grounds in communities active once again with active community programmes in relation to sports.

“We need to have dedicated community programmes, as we need to see community sports such as basketball, football and cricket just to name a few, getting stronger, hence the move to start making dormant grounds in the communities, active once again.

Apart from that, we would like to see a system being put in place by the GCB, with regard to our grounds and pitches and the MCYS welcomes this move to have this seminar with the grounds men, as they are the ones who work on the configuration of the pitches,” said Dr Anthony.

In closing, Dr Anthony urged the participants gathered on the first day of the two-day workshop, to take in as much as possible what is being taught to them and at the same time, ask questions if they are in doubt of anything.

Brief remarks were also made by president of the GCB Chetram Singh, who lauded the efforts of the CDC in organising this programme within a short time frame.

Atkinson who told the participants that mistakes will be made in life, but the important thing is to not make the same mistake twice, while learning from the first experience.