REGION NINE will soon be experiencing a surge of activities, all aimed at improving the quality of life and well-being of youth in the region. This was made possible with the appointment of five culture, youth and sports organisers who will be based in the five sub-regions/districts. 

These officers, employed by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, are tasked with ensuring the planning and organisation of both social and training activities.
The five organisers are Elvis Campbell from the South Pakaraimas, Thaddeus Marco from Shulinab, Sherman Aguilar from Aishalton, Norbert Salty from Kwatamang and James George from Moco Moco. Due to the nature of the terrain, each person was presented with a motorcycle.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, and Permanent Secretary, Alfred King, travelled to Lethem on Friday, where they met with the new organisers.
During their discussion, the Minister pointed out that through this initiative, it is hoped, that more people in the region will become au fait with the programmes offered by the Ministry. The Minister highlighted the opportunities that exist

through the Ministry. These include courses at the Kuru Kuru Training Centre and those offered by the Institute of Creative Arts (art, dance, music and drama and creative arts).
Before the year ends, a course in creative writing will become available. He also spoke of the President’s Youth Award: Republic of Guyana (PYARG). He indicated that the organisers will be required to circulate application forms among residents to ensure more youths in the region have access to the programmes.
Importantly, Minister Anthony urged the organisers to plan a leadership workshop for the youths in the region, promising that the Ministry will provide the facilitators. They were also asked to ensure that various clubs in the region were registered with the Ministry.
The Minister also spoke about the choral, drama and visual arts competitions which were brought up, as he recognised that there were no entries from Region 9 in these competitions.
Touching on the protection of cultural artifacts, Minister Anthony urged that these be preserved because there have been reports of strangers removing these items.
Minister Anthony expressed his optimism regarding the success of the project which can be replicated in other hinterland regions.
While in the region, the grants for the ground enhancement project were also handed over to the Regional Chairman, Wilson Lorentio. Those benefiting this year are Tabatinga, Rewa, Lethem, Parikwaranau and St. Ignatius. This year’s allotment for the project amounts to $7.7M.
Minister Anthony recognised that there are many other villages in the region that can benefit from the project, and urged the new organisers to encourage the villages in their area to apply for the grant.
In his remarks, PS Alfred King emphasised that this is the third year the community enhancement project is running. He noted that it has been recognised that there is a need and demand for sports enhancement.
This project, he stressed, is a meaningful one, and a good example of how the Government helps community leaders to address crucial areas, and in this instance, sports.
The PS indicated that the hinterland regions do not have access to sports development like the coastal regions, hence the importance of this project which seeks to ensure that they have a fair share.
Six submissions were made for ground enhancement, all of which were approved. It is hoped that by the end of the year, the projects will be completed. While this aspect is key, PS King emphasised that the delivery of quality programmes at the facilities must also be considered.
The residents and village and regional leaders present at the event all relayed their pleasure at having such a project in their region, especially since they were not fully aware of the many possibilities offered by the MCYS.
Meanwhile, the five officers committed to doing their tasks to the best of their ability. (GINA)