EXXONMOBIL Guyana’s involvement in local sports is anything but new. From the outset, the company has championed athletics from grassroots initiatives to professional leagues. Among the sports that have flourished under this support, cricket tends to stand out.
Much like Guyanese cuisine and humour, cricket is deeply ingrained in the nation’s culture. The sport opens the door to massive economic opportunity, fuels national pride, generates employment, supports small businesses, and uplifts communities. In every sense, it is a cultural force.
It is within this context that the launch of the ExxonMobil Global Super League (GSL) was both timely and visionary. Bold, fresh, and as electrifying as the cricket Guyanese know and love, the T-20 tournament has already made its mark. Now in its second year, GSL recently drew a sold-out crowd of more than 14,000 fans at the Guyana National Stadium, where the Guyana Amazon Warriors were crowned champions for 2025.
The Warriors’ thrilling performance only heightened anticipation for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL), widely known as “the biggest party in sport.” This isn’t just a catchy slogan, it’s a truth passionately lived by cricket fans. Every year, thousands flock to Guyana, draped in gold, green, red, black, and white, to rally behind the home team and chase the dream of lifting the trophy and claiming regional bragging rights.
That momentum carries economic weight. In 2024, Guyana welcomed over 844,000 visitors — a number significantly boosted by CPL festivities. This influx touches every sector. Hotel rooms and B&Bs are booked solid. Taxi drivers and registered transport services clock long hours to keep pace with demand. Food vendors fire up their stoves from dawn to dusk, satisfying cravings for pepper pot, eggball, bake and saltfish, curry, and more. The energy and the economic boost are undeniable.
But even beyond the numbers, cricket brings Guyanese together in an unparalleled way. Win or lose, the game is a shared language, a unifier that fosters national identity and pride. CPL and GSL offer not just entertainment, but inspiration, especially for the next generation of athletes who dream of one day stepping onto the field as the crowd chants their names.
That vision is exactly what sustained investment in sport makes possible. ExxonMobil Guyana’s continued support of cricket and other sporting initiatives shows that its presence here is not limited to oil and gas. It is a partner in national development — investing in the people, the culture, and the future of the country.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.