THE Ministry of Sports has expended over $1B during the year to develop sports facilities throughout Guyana and assist sports associations to engage in regional and international competitions.
This is according to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony who held a press conference yesterday to brief the media on the work his ministry has done and has been doing over the years the People’s Progressive Party/Civic has been in office.
Speaking yesterday, Minister Anthony said for the year, which according to him was a successful one, the ministry has written to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to clarify certain issues as it relates to the development of the sport locally and more importantly to have an ombudsman appointed to oversee elections to fill vacancies that currently exist.
Dr Anthony informed that a number of sporting programmes were held under the auspices of his ministry and he is very pleased about that.
Among the associations that benefited from the ministry’s countrywide assistance are; cricket, swimming, track and field and football.
Additionally, Minister Anthony said his ministry has spent over $300M to rehabilitate community grounds in all 10 Regions of Guyana.
Dr Anthony said, apart from rehabilitating the grounds, his ministry has been doing additional works on the facilities throughout the year.
He noted that the Resource Centre that has been constructed on Woolford Avenue is a great success as it is being used by a number of sports associations to stage conferences and clinics among other things.
According to the minister, the centre has been used to stage among other things, a basic basketball referees training course along with several cricket, football, swimming and track and field seminars/courses. A Sports Medicine course was also held at the centre.
Dr Anthony made mention of the lighting facilities that have been done at the Albion Community Centre ground stating that they are just like the lights at the Guyana National Stadium.
Minister Anthony also made mention of the lights that his ministry have provided to the softball cricket association.
The minister informed that the 25-metre warm-up pool at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal is completed and it will be officially opened next month.
Work is currently under way to erect lights at the Leonora Synthetic Track and this is being undertaken by a local company along with Moscow Lighting.
The dynamic minister said persons from Region Nine have been trained in organising sports and if the programme is a success in that Region, similar programmes will be implemented in other regions.
The minister used the opportunity to congratulate the Guyana Men’s 7s rugby team for winning their seventh title and reminded that the government of Guyana contributed to the team’s success by contributing $5M.
He reminded also that the Government of Guyana also contributed to the team’s participation in Los Angeles and India during the past year.
(By Michael DaSilva)