Sports deserves its own spotlight

Jul 17, 2025 Sports

Hear Me Out

By Rawle Toney

Rawle Toney

Kaieteur Sports – The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) held its Manifesto Consultation at the Ramada Hotel in Providence yesterday, and while it was well attended, and the applause from supporters nearly drowned the building, there was a noticeable silence in the hearts of many athletes and sports stakeholders who were present.

That silence spoke volumes. I mean, yes, a couple who stood for a long time in a cued line to be heard, barely had a chance to be heard.

The consultation, townhall-style, saw President Irfaan Ali, and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo outlining their party’s vision for the future, should they be returned to office on September 1.

From infrastructure to education, housing to healthcare, the President spoke at length, passionately and confidently, about the PPP/C’s achievements over the last five years and their plans for the next.

And truthfully, the PPP/C does have some notable accomplishments under its belt. Guyana’s landscape is changing before our eyes. But while the spotlight is shining on new roads, bridges, hospitals and schools, sports remain in the shadows.

President Irfaan Ali delivering his remarks at the PPP/C’s manifesto consultation.

Yes, the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall has been touched up. Yes, some community grounds and basketball courts have been resurfaced. Yes, there’s a visibly stronger relationship between the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission, and athletes.

And yes, the passage of the Cricket Administration Act and the Horse Racing Bill are monumental. But, sports in Guyana still lacks a cohesive direction, the kind that can only be driven by policy and priority.

The synthetic tracks in Linden and Berbice, both inherited from the previous administration, are approaching a decade of incomplete construction. Think about it.

The indoor facility at the National Track and Field Centre and the one at the Racquet Centre in Georgetown have been stalled for nearly two years, despite the government investing almost $22 billion in sports over the last five years.

The question is not whether money is being spent. It’s whether it’s being spent wisely, and more importantly, strategically.

Where is the national sports policy? Where is the elite athletes programme that guarantees long-term support for the young girl who dreams of sprinting at the Olympics, or the boy kicking a football in the ghetto, hoping to make it to the pros?

Building world-class facilities is admirable. But without the structure, without a policy that defines our goals, our athlete development pathways, our sports tourism strategies, it’s all just steel and cement. You can’t put medals around the necks of athletes with promises and applause.

I’m not a politician. And I’m certainly not interested in being labeled pro- or anti-Government. What I am, is a journalist who has covered this space for 21 years. I’ve seen it all, the celebrations, the heartbreaks, the squandered potential.

And let me be clear, this is not a PPP/C problem alone. Every political party in Guyana, past and present, has failed to place sports in the national development spotlight where it belongs. It’s always an afterthought, something trotted out for votes or showcased when there’s a medal to celebrate. But building a sports nation requires consistent commitment, not just political convenience.

Sports must have its own platform in every manifesto. It deserves its own consultation. Athletes, coaches, federations, especially those with Olympic and World Championship potential, must be consulted directly.

Stop lumping us in with “Youth” or “Culture” and expecting us to feel seen. Sports is a billion-dollar global industry. It creates jobs, boosts tourism, improves health, fosters national unity, and changes lives. Why isn’t it being treated as such?

Hear me out, politicians, party leaders, and policy shapers, if you want the votes of athletes and sports enthusiasts, if you want to truly invest in Guyana’s future, don’t just build the facilities. Build the systems. Put pen to paper. Write the policies. Fund the dreams. Engage the associations. And give sports the attention it has earned.

Only then will sports no longer be lost in the noise. Only then will the silence in the hearts of athletes be replaced with purpose, progress, and pride.

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Elections, Manifesto, Ministry of Sports, President Irfaan Ali, Rawle Toney, Sports

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