‘Guyana’s economy prevented more being done for Sports’ – President

Mar 06, 2011 Sports

---

– Ross, Alfred collect top NSC sports Awards

By Sean Devers

Guyana’s President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo says that Guyana’s economy prevented his Government from doing more for Sports but added that things are improving and so too is funding for the Sports sector.
The 47-year-old Guyanese leader was giving the feature address at the Sport’s Ministry and National Sports Commission 2010 Sports Awards Presentation Ceremony at the National Cultural Centre on Friday night.
Bodybuilder Hugh Ross and Boxer Shondell Alfred were officially declared Guyana’s National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year respectively.
Fast rising Malteenoes Table Tennis star Chelsea Edghill and teenage sprinter Chavez Ageday received the junior Sportsman and Sportswoman awards respectively while the predominantly overseas based Guyana female Football team, the ‘Lady Jags’ deservedly copped the team of the year award.
Jagdeo, in his last speech at this function as Guyana’s seventh President, explained that while his Government fully understands the importance of sport to a nation and has to spend more and broaden the base in local sports, it also has to fix other elements in society.
Jagdeo said the administration went through a tough period (economically) in the early days when they assumed office and sports was one of the areas that suffered because of the prioritizing of limited funds.
The President, who said that school sports was one of the major areas of sports that has suffered due to economic constraints, informed that modern sports facilities have been built or are being constructed now the economy is improving. He however said ‘we are still a far way from where we want to be’.
He said the construction of the Guyana National Stadium at Providence for the 2007 Cricket World was a major boost to local sports and added that work on the Athletics track in Lenora, and the swimming pool in Liliendaal should also provide improvement in those disciplines. He also said a cycling track could be built on the East Coast.
The President lauded the awardees for the hard work they put in ‘behind the scenes’ and said that it is universally recognised that sports is an important tool for building discipline, character, unity and harmony. He stressed that in a society like Guyana those lesions are magnified.
“Any society needs unity and harmony and sports, especially team sports, help to provide that in addition to creating a healthy nation. We have to emphasize not only the importance of competitive sports but recreations sports in Guyana,” Guyana’s President since August 1999, said, adding that a fitter population should provide less stress on the medical system.
Jagdeo explained that paying International debts and building things like Hospitals and Schools will take precedence over funding for sporting facilities.
He however feels that while Government needs to play a bigger role, many of the Sports Associations and the private sector is not doing enough for the development of Guyana’s Sports. The President singled out the Guyana Cricket Board as a major offender in not fulfilling their obligations to their sport, saying they seem to live in the courts. He said half of the Associations don’t have developmental plans and are not accountable.
Jagdeo also took a jab at the private sector. “While I have nothing against overseas entertainers performing here….I go to the shows….. but at a time when many talented sportspersons don’t have enough to support their families, even some of the professional ones, the Private sector put a lot of money in promoting shows but do very little for our sportspersons,” Jagdeo lamented.
The Head-of-State said ‘looking after’ our sportspersons is an area Government is looking at but said everyone must get involved if we are to really change the way those who keep our flag flying proudly through Sports live.
Jagdeo feels there is a malaise in the sports sector because of a lack of committed leadership. He was quick to add that while Government should help it should not become too involved or interfere in the running of the various Sports Associations.
Director of Sports Neil Kumar spoke of Government’s support of Sports and charged the awardees to continue their hard work.
Guyana’s Sports Minister Dr Frank Anthony said during 2010 Guyana was the venue for many International sports events including the Opening ceremony of the ICC T20 matches, the Rugby Sevens NACRA and CAC tournaments, the 11th ISKF Pan-American Karate Championships, the 4th International Power lifting Federation and North American Power Lifting Federation Championships, the Inter Guiana games, International Motor racing and World title Boxing.
Dr Anthony also reminded that the Kashif and Shanghai Football, the Hockey Festival, the Guyana Golf Open, National swimming, Table Tennis, Athletics, school Chess and Pro-Am Boxing complimented the International events in a packed calendar year for sports in Guyana.
The Sports Minister also said that in addition to the construction of the Stadium, Swimming Pool and the track and field centre currently under construction at Lenora, the National Squash Center at Woolford Avenue and the paving of the track at the National Park and the Motor racing track at Timehri are tangible ways in which Government has invested in sports facilities. He also informed that the Guyana Karate College and the GOA have been given one acre of land.
“Tonight we have much to celebrate. We have many rising stars, champions being forged from a crucible of competitions, who will also be stepping off from the playing field to the Podium, and who someday will also receive this nation’s top accolades,” Dr Anthony told those junior awardees as he congratulated the seniors.
The attendance was disappointing but several prominent members of the sporting fraternity were present as the Guyana Police Force Military Band provided musical renditions and the students of the Tutorial High School performed an energized physical display.
Attorney at Law Vidushi Persaud introduced the Speakers and Awardees while Ross responded on behalf of the Awardees and Permanent Secretary in the Sports Ministry Alfred King give the vote of thanks.
Among the 53 previous winners of the Sportsman award, Ross was only the second Bodybuilder while of the 50 Sportswomen awarded before Alfred only once was a female Boxer involved.
Cyclist Walter Grant, who is missing an arm, took home the Person with Disability award while the award for the most improved Association was given to the Guyana Table Tennis Association. The Guyana Amateur Power Lifting Federation was awarded the Sports Association of the year.
Four hundred meter runner Aliann Pompey and leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo were the runners-up for the senior Sportswoman and Sportsman awards respectively.
Both senior runner-up athletes were absent since Pompey who retuned home from the USA for the ceremony which scheduled for last week retuned to North America and Bishoo is in India with the West Indies World Cup team.
Multi-talented Squash player Ashley Khalil was the Junior Sportswoman runner-up with National youth Cricketer Amir Khan copping the runner-up for the Junior Sportsman title.
Off the field, Peter Green copped the Male Sports Official Award, while Dr Karen Pilgrim was once again the recipient of the Female Sports Official Award. Boxing Coach Sebert Blake, the Coach of Sportswoman Alfred, collected the Coach of the year award.
Orlando Charles was rewarded for his tireless and efficient work as a Sports Photographer while Jermaine Carter was recognised for his coverage of Sports on television.

---

---