GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Mr. Clement Rohee, yesterday, congratulated the Government on another landmark achievement, the completion of the state-of-the-art Synthetic Athletic Track at Leonora, West Coast Demerara. 

Speaking at the weekly press conference, in Freedom House on Robb Street, Georgetown, he emphasised that the accomplishment is one more indication of the current Administration’s commitment to the sports sector.
He said: “The PPP has always stated its firm commitment to the development and expansion of sports and the requisite facilities to help our sportsmen and women reach their full potential and continue to represent Guyana well, internationally…this is a fulfillment of a promise by the PPP/Civic in its manifesto.”
According to him, the state of the art facility will see Guyana hosting more international athletic competitions, which fits into the PPP/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s ongoing efforts to promote another tourism product, sports tourism.
Rohee said: “We are also heartened at the ongoing support of the Government to other sporting organisations to establish more facilities for Guyana’s athletes, including the Guyana Karate College’s Dojo, the Athletics Association of Guyana Headquarters, hockey field and the Guyana Football Federation’s Goal project, just to list a few.
“We wish to state, as a matter of public record, that the successive PPP Administrations have never shirked their responsibilities when it comes to the promotion of sports and support for our athletes. The evidence is in the public’s domain to show.”

The successes
The General Secretary pointed out, too, that, under the PPP/C Administration, the successes in the sports sector include the construction of the Guyana National Stadium at Providence; the refurbishment of the Albion Sports Complex, which was fitted with floodlights making it ideal for night cricket, football and other sporting events.
“It is under the PPP/Civic Government that hundreds of millions of dollars are invested in sports and sporting facilities,” he said.
Rohee added: “One would recall that, prior to 1992, there were no proper sporting facilities in Guyana. The few cricket and football grounds stayed alive because of private associations’ investments.”
He stated that consecutive PPP/C Governments have continuously increased the budgetary allocations every single year for the sports sector.
“The PPP recommits itself to continuously improving the landscape to help our athletes reach their full potential,” he said.
Rohee recalled that, in the 2014 Budget, some $960M was allocated for sports development, monies that are expected to see focus placed on improving the quality of facilities available throughout the country, as well as offering quality programmes in the area of sports for both athletes and officials.
Of the $960M, $344M is expected to be spent on continuing works at the Leonora Athletic Track and the warm-up pool at the National Aquatic Centre and another $300M on the grounds enhancement initiative which aims at upgrading selected sports grounds countrywide.

(By Vanessa Narine)