“THE Government of Guyana is pleased that it has made a positive investment in sports and will continue to build more facilities for the development of sports locally,” Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony declared while making the keynote address at the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) Annual Sport Awards Ceremony on Friday night at the National Cultural Centre.

According to Dr. Anthony, apart from building more facilities, the Government will ensure more sports persons are trained so that “Guyana can become a sports powerhouse in the region and further afield”.
The vibrant sports minister said he is very proud of the top sports achievers for 2014, as they have brought honour and distinction to Guyana and, in the same breath, the Minister said the

administrators of the various disciplines must be congratulated for moving their respective disciplines forward locally.
He noted that it is the aspiration of every Guyanese to take sports forward regardless of race or sex.
Minister Anthony said the secrets of sports must be shared within an active part of the population and stressed on the importance of sports involvement to eliminate health problems.
“It must be the dream of most parents to have their children involved in sports so as to make them rounded individuals and change the perception of the elderly folks who think that sports is not going to help them (youths), he opinied.
And he called on villages and communities to rally behind their athletes and make use of the facilities that the Government has been providing and will continue to provide.
According to Dr. Anthony, Guyana is poised and ready to have world class sports facilities.
The sports minister reminded that the National Stadium at Providence is one of the best in the world and it has hosted many international events.
He noted that even if there is six inches of rainfall, within 30 minutes, the playing area is drained off. “This investment on facilities has allowed us to host a number of international events here in Guyana,” the minister declared.
The minister reminded that the Government has also invested in an aquatic centre that houses a 50-metre international size pool as well as a 25-metre warm-up pool and the facility can now host international championships, “and this facility will not only teach people how to swim, as we are already seeing improvements with our swimmers”.
Minister Anthony made mention of the Synthetic track that is currently under construction at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, and hinted that the facility will soon be officially opened. “In addition to this, Government wants to ensure that every child benefits from this and we cannot emphasise how important this is,” Dr. Anthony stated.
In closing, Minister Anthony said several individuals and associations will receive awards and this is because of their discipline.
He lauded the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) for winning five awards and also congratulated Vidushi Persaud and Calvin Thomas for winning the Female Sports Official of the year and Person with Disability awards respectively.

The awards ceremony was chaired by NSC’s Chairman and former national hockey player Conrade Plummer who called on associations and federations to use opportunities like this (national awards) to recognise their top athletes, as these awards are awards to be cherished.
Guyana and West Indies spin bowler received the Sportsman of the Year award, while track athlete Cassie George won the Sportswoman of the Year as well as the junior Sportswoman of the Year awards. Unfortunately, however, she was absent and her mother received the awards on her behalf.
Motor racer Kristian Jeffrey received the runner-up Sportsman of the Year award, while squash player Akeila Wiltshire received the runner-up Junior Sportswoman award.
The runner-up Junior Sportsman award went to Shemron Hetmyre, while track athlete Jason Yaw collected the Junior Sportsman of the Year award.
Multitalented athlete Alisha Fortune won the runner-up Sportswoman of the Year award.
The GRFU also cashed in on the Most Improved Association award, the Sports Association of the Year award and the Sports Team of the Year award.
Stabroek News’ Orlando Charles and Emerson Campbell won the best photographer and print journalist awards respectively, while Guyana Television Channel 28’s Avenesh Ramzan won the Best Sports Journalist (non-print), GRFU’s president Peter Green won the Male Sports Personality award and National Rugby coach Theadore Henry won the Sports Coach award.
(Photos by Delano Williams).