GUYANA was not fortunate to benefit from their colonial masters or the previous government, any World Class Stadium or real International sport facilities.

Mere words will never be enough to praise the PPP/C Government under the astute leadership of former President Bharrat Jagdeo for this country’s achievements in building World Class and International Sport facilities for our people.
We must never forget that when the ICC took the decision to allow the Caribbean to host the World Cup in 2007, the Bourda Cricket Ground was described as obsolete. There were serious discussions between the Georgetown Cricket Club and the Georgetown Football Club for them to merge and make one International facility.
Those in charge never agreed. Hence, no merger and both facilities are now not capable or appropriate for hosting World Class Cricket or football matches.
Clive Hubert Lloyd, one of our greatest cricketers who certainly achieved greatness is today championing the cause for the merger of the two facilities.
Lloyd believes that such a merger has the potential of creating one of the top stadia in the Caribbean, equipped with a cycling velodrome, football ground and tennis courts. With all of this, we could have the return of International Cricket at Bourda.
Clive Lloyd said, “As a nation, we must seek to create such an environment and provide opportunities and facilities for purposeful and meaningful participation by our youths and students in the various disciplines in sports.”
It cannot be denied that the imminent Executive Chairman of Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. (QAII), the parent company for NEW GPC, Dr. Ranjisingh Ramroop, through the acquisition of the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the massive investment in the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) brought back cricket to the people of Guyana.
Dr. Ramroop and his Board of Directors must be extremely proud that they ran off a highly successful professional T-20 Cricket Tournament in the Caribbean.
There were many who doubted the tournament would have been successful. However, the massive crowd and World Class performances along with the high level of competent organisers certainly recorded a massive success for CPL.
I recalled vividly how sections of the press were writing negatively during the construction of the National Stadium at Providence.
The naysayers could not accept that we in Guyana could have completed our stadium in time for the World Cup. Let me remind them that the Brian Lara Stadium is yet to complete. Further, the facility in Kingston, Jamaica is yet without lights – No night cricket to date.
I am extremely hurt to read December 4th, 2013 “Peeping Tom” and I quote, “Training facilities do not cost a fortune and a sport academy can operate out of any makeshift bond.” What a shame of a statement!
In this modern world, raw talent and potential is not enough to compete at the highest level. Our sportsmen and sportswomen are indeed great people. We must provide our youth and students with the best that we could offer them.
Dr. Ramroop, you are a man of action. You are a success story. Please do not follow those who choose to invest outside of Guyana after they accumulate richness. Please look at our sons and daughters; let us have a Multi-Sport Complex. A sport academy in Guyana is a step in the right direction.
Guyana sons and daughters will forever remember you with such a choice.
Sad! Guyanese must not allow this facility to move to another country. A reliable source has informed that the project will now be built in another country in the Caribbean. Dr. Ramroop, you are a Guyanese, let us as Guyanese be the winners. Let us benefit from this investment.
(by Neil Kumar)