THE Yakusari Community Ground is set to receive a significant upgrade, as resources are being mobilised to install lighting at the facility.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., during a visit to the site on Saturday.
The addition of lights, which is set to commence on Tuesday, is expected to greatly enhance the usability of the ground, allowing for evening activities, community events, and expanded opportunities for sports and recreation.
Residents, during a previous meeting, had said that during a major flooding some months ago, all the animals were stored in the ground which caused some amount of damage. However, since then works have been carried out on the ground.
Minister Ramson said, “since then, we had a lot of developnment happen on this ground and we lifted the ground… maybe a good 12 inches or so, we did the fence, we built this very pavillion, we did another entrance along with the two side screens, and we gave you guys a driving lawn mower tractor.”
Additionally, he said that Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, had promised that lights would be installed on the ground, noting: “last year he had made a commitment that we would have lights in all of the polders.”
Ramson pointed out that there were some challenges last year “with the rain, severely challenging.”
He said that the project was started with lights being installed at Lesbeholden and this is not the only village which is benefitting.
“I wanted to come and explain that it is not Lesbeholden alone. I know that this area is very aggressive about its developnment and interested in seeing community ground develop in the way that you would like to see it and using it in the way that you would have been using it because you got pool of talent coming out of here… and cricket is a very important part of your pasttime.”
The minister continued, “so what I am here to annouce and finalise is that you are going to be getting your lights starting on Tuesday… that process is going to start on Tuesday.”
On Saturday, the spots were identified to have the poles placed so as to have the process to install the six lights commence.
Ramson said that they have lit over 145 community grounds, noting: “and we are now going to add that which is here in Yakusari and then obviously when we’re finished we are going to go down to Mibicuri, go down to Johanna just to complete what we are doing… We have already installed poles at Zambia as well, and then once we place them, the other contractors are going to come to run all the wires and put in all the lights.”
He said that 24 high powered lights in total will be installed with four on each of the six poles, adding that the design is made modular in order to allow for expansion.
Ramson said there is more in store for Yakusari, as he will be lobbying for another pavillion with a dressing room, as was requested by residents.