Story and photos by Indrawattie Natram

ESSEQUIBO born businessman, Parmeshwar Jagmohan, known as ‘Joe’, on Sunday, commissioned a community ground at Hampton Court, which was the end result of a more than $30 million investment.

The businessman who is the Managing Director of International Imports and Supplies located at Lot 15 Garnett Street, Georgetown, spent his own money to convert a five-acre rice field into a community ground. This kind gesture was done in memory of his late mother, Chano Jagmohan.

Jagmohan, during an interview with this publication, said he has fond memories of the Region Two community where he spent most of his childhood.

He recalled that, whilst growing up, he played cricket and other sports in the community.

He said that when the Sankar family sold their lands, youths in the area had no place for recreation. He saw it fitting to establish one.

According to the businessman, the community ground will be used to promote culture, all sport disciplines and will not be confined to any religion. He said that every member of the community will have the right to use it.

He told this publication that he spent over $30 million to ensure that the ground is in a safe state and can be used for its intended purposes.

It is the businessman’s wish for the residents of the entire region to utilise the ground.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir who attended the simple but significant commissioning ceremony, said that it was more than an appreciative gesture made by the businessman.

“I appreciate the amount of work that he has put into building this facility.
Having been involved as an executive and president of the Everest Cricket Club, I know what it takes to get sporting facilities up. I urge all those who use it to take excellent care of the facility,” Nadir said.

Nadir said that he saw all the hard work and dedication that was put in by Jagmohan in developing the ground.

Nadir said he was confident that next year’s memorial cricket match will bring massive development to the region.

Region Two Chairperson, Vilma De Silva, used the opportunity to commend Jagmohan and team for the initiative.

A softball cricket competition with 14 teams was held at the ground on Sunday. The first prize of $1 million was up for grabs. The second and third place winners were to be awarded $ 300,000 and $100,000 respectively. There was also a best player award and other special prizes including several ram sheep for the various teams.