…says the government is mulling setting up night facilities in every region

PREIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali yesterday said that in developing the sports sector in Guyana, his Government is aiming at creating safe zones and wellness centres for children and families to motivate communities to be more health conscious.

Part of this holistic programme will also be the development of night facilities in every region and a physical education programme that will be integrated on the community and school level.

President Ali made statements after he handed over 12 lawnmowers and 17 brushcutters to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport that will be distributed to various communities around the country as part of the Government’s Community Ground Enhancement programme.

The Head of State praised the Ministry for its “very aggressive and determined work” in building sports and culture from the “community up,”
According to President Ali, “this is the beginning of numerous investments that we are going to make all across the country. Every single NDC [Neighbourhood Democratic Council] will see tremendous investment and upliftment in their sporting facility.”

“But much more than creating sporting facilities; we want to create wellness centres, safe zones in which families and children can come out as a family unit and they can enjoy sharing time with the wider community in a safer environment.”

The President said he wants to create wellness centres that will create opportunities and the infrastructure that would motivate people to become more health conscious, which would result in the mitigation of many primary healthcare issues.

President Ali emphasised that the Government’s model is building an integrated approach to community, sports and culture development. As a result, the President said, the Government is examining the viability and cost in developing, by the end of next year, a proper night facility in every region.

“Every single Region must have at least one proper night facility, and then we are going to build that out to ensure that in the larger Regions you have more facilities like these.

And in every NDC, and in areas where there is no NDC, in a group of villages, we are looking to put one facility that will stimulate interest in sports, stimulate interest in community health and that would advance our efforts in promoting sports and also culture.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, thanked President Ali for his continuous support towards ensuring that his Ministry is furnished with resources to bring to life the plans of the Government of Guyana for sports in the country.

Minister Ramson explained that apart from the $10M allocated to each community ground, it is important for the Communities to be able to maintain the facility.

“The President has been stressing the importance of communities in all regions and the handing over of this equipment over the next few weeks and couple of months, is really to emphasise how important communities are to the President, Cabinet and the Government,” Minister Ramson said.