VP Jagdeo

AS the country see unprecedented growth in all sectors, the Government of Guyana has been making significant contribution in sports with billions allocated over the last few years.
The wealth which is direct result of the country’s new found oil, has seen the government constructing mega sports facilities for the development of the nation as a sports tourism hub and for the wellbeing of its citizens.

Quizzed on Friday by participants at the youth forum on the sidelines of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Exhibition, the country’s Vice President and lead in the oil sector Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, said investment and sports is key and something high on the agenda of the current administration.

“It [sport] has to be transformed into a business model. Right now, we are driving it from government; it is more done to provide better facilities for people, it is not a full-fledged economic model, so we have to do that transform even the thinking, many of the association still have archaic thinking.”

The veteran politician said that the country needs more visionary leadership in sports, adding, “We want to work with them but many of them don’t have a vision for the sector, the associations, the voluntary associations themselves, they don’t have a vision and it becomes immensely harder when it has to be a top down approach to addressing this issue because if you have great association that can work with a business model then they can work with the government.”

He highlighted the tremendous funds provided to upgrade or build entirely new venues in Linden, New Amsterdam, Palmyra, Port Mourant, Anna Regina as well as the rehabilitation and installation of flood lights in hundreds of community ground around the country as evidence of their commitment.

He said what is needed now is for the programmes to utilise these facilities, “We are investing heavily in sports, sport hall being rehabilitated, heavily in infrastructure and recreational facilities, we have to now support this by programmes, how do we get to professionalise this to make is a business, people can earn money from sports and it’s something that is worth doing.”

He says that they have supported some elite athletes by giving them jobs to supplement their income but that is not they model they envision for distinguished athletes.