RECENTLY, thousands of Guyanese converged at the Guyana National Stadium for the semi-finals and finals of the Hero Cricket Premiere League (CPL).
Notably, the crowd of cricket fans were from all walks of life, social classes, political persuasions, gender and sexual orientations. They were united in support of the Guyana Amazon Warriors who delivered a nail-biting performance and good cricket to secure their place in the playoffs/semi-finals.
Also, Guyanese packed the stadium again on Wednesday, but their hopes and dreams were shattered as the overs came to an end and the Jamaica Tallawahs came out on top, securing a place in the finals.
Despite, the agonising defeat that left Guyanese talking and making plans for the tournament next year, their love for cricket drew them to the finals on Friday evening.
Additionally, all throughout the CPL journey, Guyanese also showed their support for the Cricket Carnival Initiative which was introduced by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, who conceptualised the idea of packaging the sport with carnival events to create a new tourism product which would ultimately showcase the natural beauty and features of Guyana.
These Cricket Carnival events have been well-attended with the hotels and occupancy rates sky-rocketing to 93 per cent and above.
Also, the Guyana Tourism Association will have to check and compile the tourists and visitors arrivals into the country for the Cricket Carnival during the months before and immediately after the big partying event.
So far, all statistics available are pointing to favourable results as it regards arrivals.
They have proven local small scale businesses like the bed and breakfast initiatives are very lucrative and viable to pursue in Guyana’s fast-growing economy.
Firstly, the Guyana Amazon Warriors must be given a good report card. They played fairly well even though they did not make it to the finals.
The team needs to do some very intense introspection as to why they played the way they did in Wednesday’s match. How could they have played the tournament differently? Who needs to go? Where are the players lacking?
Some were of the opinion that Guyana should have chosen to bat first instead of fielding. Others opined that the problem was in the selection of active players for the deciding game.
Whatever, the solution is, Guyana needs a win, badly.
In the end, Guyanese are going to support the team win or lose, but more so should they win the next tournament.
Secondly, the Government of Guyana and the President specifically should be commended for the interest they showed in the Hero CPL tournament from the beginning and cricket as a sport in general.
It is the coordinating hand of the Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry under the leadership of Charles Ramson Jr that made the Cricket Carnival a successful calendar of events, not to take away from President Ali’s general leadership.
Thirdly, Guyana benefitted from the games and cricket in more ways than one.
In one way, the cricket and carnival events served as a much needed distraction from the politics that more often than not divides Guyanese. It was a safe place where the discussion focused on the talented men and a game rooted in luck and chance.
It was nice seeing Guyanese embracing one another in unity and togetherness.
Another way, it reminded everyone that sports truly has the potential of bringing Guyanese and Caribbean people together. It was like a melting pot of cultures and diversity looking at how Guyanese poured their support out and wore the team of their choice on their chests and sleeves.
Finally, there is hope for the President’s mantra of ‘One Guyana’. If Guyanese could celebrate cricket as one people, so too could they work together in the political arena and in other segments of society to secure the best victory of all, a united nation.
Then, the idea of two Guyanas would cease to exist in the minds of individuals and the thinking of ‘One Guyana’ would be the dominant thought behind the behavioural patterns of all Guyanese.
The words discrimination and race would not be given any life to open the wounds of hate, scorn, and divisiveness that haunt all Guyanese to this day regardless of the progress and development that are taking place.
The opposition lost out again to use this very significant moment to show that they can put their divisive politics on the backburner and publicly endorse and support One Guyana, tourism and cricket.