Minister Charles Ramson Jr spearheaded the unveiling of flood light for several community grounds around the city over the weekend.
The government community ground enhancement program continued into full swing as Minister Ramson led initiatives to illuminate two grounds around the city.
The St Stephen’s ground in Charlestown and Farnum Community Ground in Subryanville were outfitted with lights, the playing area rehabilitated, fence erected and field goals provided for football.
Minister Ramson said they met both facility in poor condition and was elated to invest in making it a safe space for the communities.

“One of thing we were doing for the grounds all around the country is to start to light them up, this is a commitment that President Ali had made and also something the Vice-President had spoken about too, so you will see over the next few weeks as a lot of these projects get concluded. You will see us start to light up a number of these ground,” he said.

He said they are also set to start renovation and upgrading grounds in Sophia as they look to create places and spaces for the nation’s young people.
“All This investment that we are making is for you, we want you to take your talent to the best possible place that it could go, we want you to be involved in organized sport and that is the investment that we are making in you, we also want you to stay off the street, because when you don’t have options for what you are going to do with your spare time that is when you get involved in a bunch of activities that you know leads you nowhere.”

He said the ministry is working with a number of former players as well as former national football coach Jamaal Shabazz to build a program where coaches would work with youngsters at different grounds to develop their skills and abilities.
Charlestown resident Malachi Gobin said he was happy for the attention for the ground by the ministry, adding, “I’m a youngster from Charlestown and I like the development of the lights and the ground that is going on and you can see everybody is enjoying themselves and come out every day to enjoy themselves and it’s beautiful to have these lights and I enjoy playing on this ground, every day.”

Darwin Damon a footballer from Charlestown said, “As a man that is play out here, it’s a great honor to get the lights out here because plenty night coming out from work, we can’t come out and play, so if you come out from work late you have the lights to come out and play and everybody grateful for the lights.”

The Government of Guyana has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars toward developing ground around the country with hundreds of ground either under development or has developed.