 during a visit to the Essequibo Coast in April 2021 as part of the Ground Enhancement initiative</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/174761170_3918501411577209_7469190347919869286_n-225×300.jpg” data-large-file=”https://newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/174761170_3918501411577209_7469190347919869286_n.jpg” loading=”lazy” class=” wp-image-111039″ src=”https://newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/174761170_3918501411577209_7469190347919869286_n-225×300.jpg” alt=”” width=”444″ height=”592″ /><figcaption id=)
Flashback! Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. (left) during a visit to the Essequibo Coast in April 2021 as part of the Ground Enhancement initiative
Since assuming office in August 2020, Minister Ramson Jr. and his team have been constantly visiting grounds nationwide with a view of having community participation in the development process.
He pointed that a similar approach was taken in the crafting of the 2022 Budget, the country’s largest at G$552.9 billion.
“For sport, the budget is $3.15 billion with a capital of $2.4 billion and every single sport association and federation has issued statements for the first time in the history of this country in support of the government, in support of the ministry, in support of the programme and the relationship that they have with the minister and the National Sports Commission,” Ramson Jr. explained.
Infrastructure development
Meanwhile, in his Budget presentation late last month, Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, detailed that $1.4 billion is budgeted in 2022 for sport infrastructure and development.
These include for the completion of the synthetic tracks in Regions Six and 10; the multi-purpose sport facilities; the erection of stands at the National Track and Field Centre; rehabilitation works at the National Stadium to support the Cricket Academy; construction of pavilions at Region Six and 10; and the procurement of sport gear.
Of this amount, $250 million is also budgeted for the continued improvement of the community grounds.
In 2021, 25 community grounds across Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and 10 were upgraded, and preparatory works have begun for the construction of the multi-purpose sports facilities at Regions Two, Six and 10.
Aside from this, the sum of $45.8 million is also allocated for maintenance works to sport facilities, including the Mackenzie Sports Club, Kwakwani Recreational Centre, National Aquatic Centre and Colgrain Pool.
The Senior Finance Minister in his speech further stated, “The sport programme aims to ensure that all Guyanese are provided with opportunities to participate in sporting activities, thereby channelling energies, abilities and talents to contribute meaningfully to national development, in its various dimensions.”
The investment being made in the sector is aimed at ensuring the execution of the President’s vision for a vision of a “bottom-up approach” to the development of sport.
