Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) Dr. Frank Anthony, is calling on sporting associations to work together to bring sporting activities to Guyana.
The minister made this call during his feature address at the presentation ceremony of the MCYS/National Sports Commission 2007 Awards ceremony at the National Cultural Centre on Friday night.
Addressing a gathering that included Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, former Commissioner of Police Laurie Lewis, Director of Sport, Neil Kumar and other distinguished guests, Anthony highlighted Guyana’s success story in the staging of Cricket World Cup 2007.
“We hosted a number of events after CWC 2007 and from all indications and notices received, those that visited Guyana for those events stated that their visit was great and they would return in some capacity or the other in the future,” he said.
He added:”With this in mind, the sporting Diasporas need to work together to forge a stronger collaboration to promote Guyana as a sporting venture.”
Sports, Dr. Anthony stated , continue to contribute to the integration of the Guyanese society.
“Just take a look at the ‘Days of Interaction’ organized by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with the NSC held around Guyana and you will see the effect sports have on the Guyanese nation.
“It clearly shows that non-profit cultures can further bring together the unity of our people.”
Hall of Fame
The minister also told the gathering that his ministry would be launching an exhibition of all award winners through the years. This would also serve as a precursor to create a Guyanese Hall of Fame.
“You are our champions. Champions are not made from gems, they are made from inside. It takes lots of sacrifice and hard work to make you our champions today and for this we are grateful. Because of your achievements, Guyana is recognized in the field of Sports,” Dr. Anthony stated.
He also notified the gathering about his ministry’s plans to upgrade the CASH, National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue and the Lawn Tennis facility at Wolford Avenue, stating that work has already begun done on the latter.
He observed too that some sports associations are of a mixed bag, with some doing bad and the others good.
“They are of a mixed bag, either through bad management or financial disability. But we at the ministry and the NSC would not stand and allow these associations to falter, we would lend a helping hand so that they can join the group of associations that are doing well gradually,” Anthony assured.
Sports in school system
In closing, Anthony thanked beverage giants Banks DIH Limited for their scholarship award and urged the NSC, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and all the sports associations to redouble their efforts to have sports integrated into the school system.
There have been 103 winners of Sports Awards for the past 52 years. Of this number, 53 were males with cricket being the leading sport with 21 nominations. Former Guyana and West Indies captain Clive Lloyd won the Sportsman of the Year award four times (1968, ’81, ’84 and ’87).
Shivnarine Chanderpaul having won the Sportsman of the Year award on this occasion has equalled Lloyd’s record of four wins. Chanderpaul won the title in 1994, ’96,’98 and ’07.
Earlier in the night’s proceedings, Kumar gave a review of the year in sports.
“It was indeed a historic year for Guyana in sports. The Government of Guyana was able to complete the National Stadium and successfully host CWC 2007 in the Caribbean. As a nation, Guyanese took up the challenge and together we did it, hence today we can recognize and celebrate the achievement of a world class state-of-the-art stadium.
“There were also the ‘Teach them Young’ programmes during the school vacation which attracted 71 well organized camps where 3,000 youths participated and the ‘Challenge Day Activity’.” This was initiated by the minister of sport and attracted over 5,000 participants around the country, Kumar said.
He also highlighted the fact that after more than one decade, Guyana had won the male basketball and volleyball titles when the 2007 Inter-Guiana games were held here. Cycling was also introduced to the games and this sport was dominated by the Guyanese.
“We at the NSC are currently working with a short and long-term developmental programmes. We are focusing on active sports for the various sports disciplines in schools, clubs, communities and regions across the country. The NSC, its coaches and sports organizers have also developed a healthy relationship with many stakeholders in Guyana, and this is proving to be a vital asset which is producing tangible and encouraging results.”
Kumar noted that the NSC was responsible for a five-year strategic developmental plan and sports policy.
Marketing Executive of Banks DIH Limited Carlton Joao in a brief statement recommitted his company’s commitment to sports in Guyana.
“When you look around, you can see Banks DIH being actively involved in sports and we will continue to do so. We have just launched the Upper Demerara Coca Cola first division league competition. There is also the Banks Premium Beer Knock-Out League being played amongst the premier teams of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) along with the sponsorship of the national schools Athletic Track and Field meeting which was held under the Coca Cola banner and very soon we are launching the Sprite 20/20 competition in tandem with the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club,” Joao said.
Scholarships
“We will be giving two fully-sponsored four-year scholarships for the University of Guyana (UG) in the field of Mass Communications to two sportsmen/women. The criteria for same will be advertised shortly in the media, but the entrants must have represented Guyana in their field of sports, and will be required to work in Guyana for three years after the completion of their studies. They must also work at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport during recess periods at UG,” Joao said.
The mention of the scholarships received a round of applause from the audience.
As was the case when he won the Guyana Cricket Board Cricketer of the Year Award, Chanderpaul’s son Tajenarine ‘Brandon’ Chanderpaul collected the Sportsman of the Year award from Prime Minister Hinds on behalf of his father.
With the exception of Kaieteur News’s Rawle Welch (joint Sports Journalist Print) who was absent for reasons unknown, along with national under-19 captain Steven Jacobs (Junior Sportsman ) and Claudius Butts (Runner-up Sportsman of the Year), all other recipients were on hand to collect their respective awards to rapturous applause and orchestral music from the Guyana Police Force band.
