…Says GSCL has a friend in the Government of Guyana
By Frederick Halley
THE Government of Guyana has invested in over 650 community grounds and has lit over 150 of them during the last five years.
This disclosure was made by Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport, Charles Ramson Jnr. during Friday evening’s impressive launching of the third edition of the Vice-president T20 Softball Cup, held at the Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) ground, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.
Deputising for Vice-president Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who is the Patron of the tournament, the minister told the appreciative audience, which included executive members of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc. participating players and sponsors, that “no where else in the world, apart from India which has a population of over 1.4 billion people, has lit so many community grounds or sporting facilities during that period.”
Further more, Minister Ramson pointed out that, “we did that here in Guyana on a small budget and I’m showing you what kind of impact that makes.”
According to the minister, “if you go into these communities, especially the rural ones, when they have events there, you can easily find 2,000 – 3,000 people coming out to enjoy the facilities late into the evening.’
Moreover, the minster said, “when you are putting on tournaments like these, wherever they are played, people from all around the communities come out to enjoy this culture that we have, watching cricket and also sharing in each other’s space and all of the great things that make us uniquely Guyanese.”
Directing his remarks to the executives of the GSCL, Minister Ramson told them that, “I want you to know that you have a friend in the Government of Guyana. What you are doing here is bigger than softball, this is about Guyana and making communities and Guyana stronger.”
The minister said he also wants to impress the need for sustainability and longevity “since that’s how you compound the greatest effect and impact on tournaments like these.”
Minster Ramson stressed that the Vice-president is deserving of having the event and so much more, named after a man who has dedicated his entire life to public service and the development of Guyana.
The minister pointed out that the tournament has grown from strength to strength where the total prize money, including cash and incentives have spiralled over $6,000,000.
Minister Ramson reminded the audience that “cricket is part of who we are, whether it’s hard ball, tape ball or regular ball, whatever it is and more importantly though, what it does to us for the fabric of our society and this is one of the reasons why, as a national leader I’m here and the Vice-president pays so much attention to it also. These are the things that bring our country together…”:
Minister Ramson also took the opportunity to commend the GSCL and the Hardyal family for the dynamism in the continued staging of the Vice-president T20 Softball Cup. Managing Director of Regal Stationery & Computer Centre, Mahendra ‘Anil” Hardyal is the brainchild behind its staging.
A former First Division player for Everest, the minister, who played alongside David Harper, paid kudos to his former colleague, revealing that Harper still holds the record for the highest individual First Division score in Guyana – 313.
Apart from Regal Stationery & Computer Centre, the other sponsors include Regal Super Centre, DCSN Construction & General Supplies Inc,, Lakhram Singh Contracting Services, Trophy Stall, USA Cricket Zone, FL Sports, Star Party Rentals, Chung’s Global Inc, Rajiv Gandhi University, Triple A Construction and Guyana Lottery Company.
