THE proactive Matarkai Sports Council from Region One made courtesy visits to several government ministries over the last two days, to interact with ministers and other officials and highlight the plans for the overall development of the sub-region. On Tuesday, they met with Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, who is also the Patron of the Council; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr; Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond and Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud. On Wednesday the group also met with Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai. Chairman of the council, Micquel Perez, and Public Relations Officer Sherlon Rodrigues were present at all the meetings.
According to Rodrigues, the meetings were well received and the councillors were given favourable responses.
“We were seeking ways of collaboration. Our aim was to get support for not only sport, but also education, health, social and welfare.”’

Rodrigues said that they got positive feedbacks from all the government ministers and are now tasked with creating proposals for specific projects.
The group spoke to Minister Ramson Jr about the possibility of fixing some of the grounds in the area and he indicated his interest in visiting after the approval of the 2021 Budget.
“We have to meet as an executive committee and start planning for some of the proposals we made,” Rodrigues noted.
The Sports Council also petitioned Minister Walrond to help make a few benabs at one of their grounds.
They also asked Dr Persaud to support with the development of the cottage industry in the communities to get residents earning.
A cottage industry is a small-scale, decentralised manufacturing business often operated out of a home rather than a purpose-built facility.