PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday told his audience at the opening of the recently built national squash court and the resurfaced tennis courts at Non Pariel, Woolford Avenue, the Government of Guyana is looking to expand sporting facilities at the macro level to all Guyanese. “First of all, let me thank Minister Anthony and his team, the Guyana Squash Association for the work they have done in getting us this far and this is not just about the facility, but what happens in it and how it is used. That will really describe its original intent.
“We are looking to expand sporting facilities at the macro level to Guyanese, but more particularly in this case, to ensure we are able to establish the facilities which will give access to people who have never had access to such before.”
Looking at the progress made by the economy over the years, President Jagdeo told his audience which included Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony, local squash queen Nicolette Fernandes and president of the Guyana Tennis Association, Christopher Ram, Guyana has come a far way and continue to move further ahead despite the economic situation many other countries are facing today.
“Guyana has moved from a US$300M to US$2.5B economy and we have seen the growth in income at every level. The growth is evident as we moved from a country which used 114% of its money to pay debt and wages and salary in the public sector, to one where we are now paying 4% of our revenue to debt and wages and salary 30%.
“This leaves us with a balance to provide sporting, social and economic infrastructure for our people and once we have returned the country to solvency and all things start improving, we can move our resources to areas that were not considered existential,” stated President Jagdeo.
He added, “In Guyana, we know of the existential issues at the beginning. But what is important to the formation of a national identity and also important to bringing people together and challenging them while creating a will for the citizens and sports and culture can do this.”
While he refused to repeat the words of Dr Anthony, President Jagdeo called on his audience to trace the significant growth in the allocations to the numerous open pastures of recent years and the way in which they have improved Guyana’s economy.
“Now and in the past, many people think why we can’t move at a faster pace in accumulating facilities. But I want to say that these things don’t grow in explanation ways, but they grow by steady accumulation and this is what I will always want in the future. ”
President Jagdeo told his audience that also included president of the Guyana Squash Association Andrew Arjoon, Permanent Secretary in the MCYS Alfred King and other special invitees, that being able to sustain what you build, there would be sustainable lasting changes in a country.
He said the construction of sports facilities in certain areas in Guyana, such as the Olympic-sized swimming pool, the Guyana National Stadium, the synthetic track at Leonora and now the public squash courts, was the Government’s aim to de-centralised sports in Guyana so all Guyanese can benefit, while adding that it is his Government’s intention to make sure everyone benefits as the society expands.
He used the One Laptop per Family (OLPF) programme as an example, where he said the GoG does not wish to have too much differentiation amongst its people in the next 25 years, which would see things being catapulted to a more modern era beginning with job creations.
The President called on all and sundry to make great use of the facilities especially the newly build squash courts, while he called on the GSA to make use of same by giving back of their time to the less fortunate who are willing to learn the sport of squash.
Following his speech, the President unveiled the plaques to officially open both the Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) resurfaced playing and practice courts, along with the newly built squash courts, doing so at the latter with the assistance of Fernandes.
Also delivering remarks were Minister Anthony, King and Director of Sport in the National Sports Commission Neil Kumar, while Project Engineer Patrick Pitt of Design Construction and Services Limited give a review of the project.