…says all hands-on-deck approach needed to transform Sports in Guyana

THE National Sports Commission (NSC), led by Chairman Kashif Muhammad, met yesterday for the first time, where the six-member Commission unanimously, after consultation with Minister Charles Ramson Jr, named Steve Ninvalle as Christopher Jones’ successor. According to Muhammad, Ninvalle’s distinguished background as a Sports administrator helped to influence the Commission’s decision. Ninvalle is a National Award-winning administrator, known for transforming amateur boxing in Guyana and the Caribbean.
He’s the president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) and a former Sports Journalist.
Ninvalle is also a former Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
Speaking to Chronicle Sport following the announcement, Ninvalle first thanked the Commissioners for believing in his ability, while expressing gratitude to Minister Ramson for accepting the Commission’s recommendations.

Ninvalle said he now looks forward to working with everyone involved in sports, to help move the sector forward.
“Everyone will have a part to play; it’s really an all hands-on-deck approach going forward. I am looking forward to working closely with the Minister (Ramson) because his support it vital,” Ninvalle said. Neil Kumar was the first to be named as Director of Sport and he served in that capacity from 1993 until the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) lost power in the 2015 Elections to the APNU+AFC coalition. However, after Christopher Jones was hired in the position in 2015, following the March 2, 2020 elections, and the announcement of the return of the PPP/C Government on August 2, 2020, many speculated as to who will be Guyana’s third Director of Sport in 28 years.
In 1993, Samuel Hinds, in his capacity as acting President of Guyana at the time, assented to the National Sports Commission Act which was passed in the sitting of the Sixth Parliament on December 3 that year.

According to the National Sports Commission Act, Section 11 (1), “The Commission may, after consultation with the Minister, employ, upon such terms and conditions as it thinks fit, a Director of Sport, and such other officers and employees as the Commission deems necessary for the proper carrying out of its functions.”
The Act outlines the Director of Sport as being the “Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, and subject to any general or specific directions of the Commission, be responsible to the Commission for ensuring that the functions of the Commission are properly discharged and objectives achieved.”
According to the May 20 Official Gazette, Muhammad will chair the commission, which also includes Guyana Lawn Tennis Association president, Cristy Campbell; Guyana Cricket Board president, Bissoondyal Singh; Guyana Hockey Board president, Phillip Fernandes; chartered accountant, Chetram Ramdihal and Dellon Davidson.