By Rajiv Bisnauth

FORMER Chairman of the National Sports Council, Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira, views the government’s consideration to erect an international cycling facility at D’Urban Park as a step in the right direction.Earlier in the week, President David Granger said that his government is willing to consider the erection of the facility, but a decision will be made shortly on the way forward.
“As a former administrator and former Chairman of the National Sports Council, I welcome the news that Guyana in the months to come will see the start of the velodrome,” he said regarding Guyana sporting infrastructure.

“We have produced outstanding cyclists over the years, but we mainly are forced to use the roads, so it has always been difficult to go to games where there is a velodrome and not having the experience,” Perreira outlined.
Perreira, who is also a veteran cricket commentator, is of the view that with the erection of the velodrome, cyclists in the future will be better prepared and rather than winning medals, they can qualify for world games because of better facilities at their disposal.
Guyana is one of the few Caribbean countries without a cycling track.
The idea of a cycling facility came from a number of cycling stalwarts including Neville Hunte, Victor Rutherford, Aubrey Bryce, and Lloyd Conway among others, who sent out letters to not only President Granger but also to the Minister of Sport, the Director of Sport, the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) and the Guyana Olympic Association.
D’Urban Park has a capacity to accommodate some 30 000, making it the largest venue in the country.