By Neil Kumar
RECENTLY, I am reading about the role and importance of sports and recreational facilities in our country. It is amazing to see the shallow memories and poor judgement some people have. Further, it seems that the opposition and the naysayers will never appreciate development.

The PPP/C must be proud of their achievements in the development of sport and recreational facilities across this country. It was the PPP/C government that built the national stadium at Providence.
The PPP/C built the first ever International Athletic Track. The world class facility at Leonora is second to none in the Caribbean. The synthetic track and field facility also gives our footballers their first recognised international football field.

The National Aquatic Centre, with a 50 meters swimming pool and a warm up/warm down 25 meters pool, is a tremendous achievement for this country. The national Racquet Centre, along with the prestigious National Sport Resource Centre mark a new beginning for sports in Guyana.

The PPP/C government developed the national sport hall into an international facility. Athletes and coaches training and competing in basketball, volleyball, badminton, hockey, karate, and boxing are delighted with access to the sport hall.
The National Gymnasium is yet another facility where athletes of multiple disciplines, particularly football, relish the use of the facility.

The PPP/C successfully developed and implemented a National Development Programme, which included the establishment of many community centres and playfields around the country.
The PNC during its 28 years, 1964-1992, did not build a single sport facility that they can show to Guyanese.
In the period 2015-2020, the PNC+APNU/AFC can down their heads in shame and walk around Durban Park, their “flagship” facility in Demerara.

In Essequibo, the PNC shamefully spent millions of taxpayers’ money to put together a recreational park at “Ex-Mouth;” this park is disgraceful with heavy grass and vines over-running the entire place.
Worst is the fact that the money was spent by the PNC/REO without verifying the owner of the land. Today, that issue is in the court.

Millions of dollars were spent on developing the facilities at Linden and New Amsterdam; shamefully, this nation is awaiting an explanation of how the money was spent by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and National Sport Commission during the period 2015-2020.
Sport is a must for all from the cradle to the grave. The PPP/C government fully recognises this indubitable fact and thus, we are committed to the development of professional, amateur and recreational sports.

The most recent recreational facility at Windsor Forest is indeed a tremendous achievement that clearly demonstrates this commitment. First lady Arya Ali must be complimented for this momentous achievement as we continuously see hundreds of persons enjoying the use of this impressive facility.

Money spent on well-organised and executed projects that significantly benefit our citizens is money well spent. Those persons saying otherwise are obviously unscrupulous in their attempts to score fallacious political points.
The PPP/C government will remain undeterred by such unfounded and politically motivated claims as we continue to demonstrate our commitment to improving the lives of all Guyanese!