MSC executives question announcement by Sport Minister that NICIL has transferred ownership to government

Oct 21, 2022 Sports

With massive development to begin in another four weeks’ time at the Mackenzie Sports Club, where work on the MSC ground will begin, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson (Jr.) has informed the MSC Executive body that the facility is now the property of the Government of Guyana.

Recent event at athletic Meet at MSC.

Speaking directly to those gathered at a special meeting last Tuesday at the MSC in Linden, which included President of the MSC Avery Trim and General Secretary Joseph Chapman, the Minister with responsibility for sport, accompanied by Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, announced that the multi-purpose facility, probably the only one of its kind that caters for all types of sports and games in Guyana, is now owned by Government.

He informed that the MSC, which was identified as one of three chosen such facilities to be upgraded; the others are in New Amsterdam, Berbice and Anna Regina in Essequibo, they at a combined cost of approximately $1.4bln attached to make them international sports centres.

Minister Ramson explained that the power was always vested in NICIL as a state owned company and while they might have met previously with the MSC concerning the ownership of it, he pointed out that there was a change in leadership at NICIL.

Responding to General Secretary of the MSC, Joseph Chapman, who queried that development saying that NICIL in 2019 when they met the MSC Executives were unclear who owned the MSC. But Minister Ramson informed: “They left and had to do their research and they had to advise themselves so when they came to find out, they would have wanted to ascertain what documents you possessed which you were unable to provide. Is that correct?”, for which Chapman nodded in agreement.

MSC executives said that a fire in 2012 had destroyed several important documents pertaining to the ownership of the MSC, when the Linmine Secretariat went up in flames during a protest which occurred on the Mackenzie / Wismar Bridge against proposed increase in electricity in tariffs in the town.

The GS then asked Minister Ramson: “Why would NICIL after finding out that they have ownership of the MSC in April, 2022 and they are going to transfer it to the government, not seek to talk to the executives of the club?

The retort from the government official was, “Well maybe you should speak to them about that.”

Chapman then enquired of the MSC’s Executive Committee’s role, now that Government would be holding power over its operations, if the MSC will remain a members’ club?

“I have not thought that far ahead of your members club, because I don’t think so much about your club. That’s your club. You guys have to decide how you want to run your organization, your organization is here to help manage the facility. That’s what you have been doing, Right? Isn’t that correct?” asked Minister Ramson.

According to Minister Ramson, “We are looking to build strong relationships, strong partnerships but we know we can’t do this (alone) so very important as well is that we believe the people of Linden need the best possible facility that is available.”