The 2009 National Sports Awards ceremony provided the platform for President Jagdeo to offer more funding to sports while calling on national associations to establish new work ethics and to function in a professional manner.
“My government has no interest in taking over associations, we want to work closely with these associations so that sports can flourish in Guyana,” Jagdeo declared.
He said some associations lacked accountability and transparency but he saw a new beginning for sports in Guyana.
According to Jagdeo, sports locally had suffered during the colonial era and more recently due to debt repayment problems.
He noted, however, that Guyana was in a better position now so sports will benefit.
“We are looking forward for a brighter pathway to the development of sports in Guyana,” Jagdeo declared.
He called on Guyanese sports personalities to help to create an identity for the society, calling them pioneers since they have to create opportunities unlike athletes in the developed world who develop on commercial success.
Sports Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, paid tribute to previous awardees over the past 52 years while welcoming the new award winners into Guyana’s sports annals.
He said the Ministry of Sport was working vigorously to promote differently-abled athletes with international assistance.
Dr. Anthony congratulated differently-abled cyclist Walter Grant-Stuart, who was this year’s awardee in that category.
Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, in his report said several sports facilities were currently under construction while a synthetic track will soon be constructed for athletics.
Kumar said that grassroot sporting activities was a resounding success noting that his department will be forging closer alliance with other stakeholders for 2010.
The 2009 National Sportsman and sportswoman international cric-keter Ramnaresh Sarwan and Squash star Nicolette Fernandes respectively were both previous winners.
Fernandes, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to overseas commitments, has now won the title for the fifth time, the most ever by a woman athlete while Sarwan first won the award in 2000 and also held the junior sportsman of the year in 1997.
Rugby also had its proud moment with the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) being declared the Sports Association with the National Rugby Sevens team being named Sports Team of the Year while their coach Laurence Adonis was named Sports Coach of the Year.
The awardees were Walter Grant Stuart – Person with Disability, Franklyn Wilson – Sports Journalist (Photographer), Iva Walton – Sports Journalist (non print), Rawle Toney – Sports Jounalist (print), Guyana Rugby Football Union – Sports Association, Guyana Powerlifting Association – Most Improved Association, Dr. Karen Pilgrim – Female Sports Personality, Hilbert Foster – Male Sports Personality, Laurence Adonis – Sports Coach, Guyana Rugby Sevens team – Sports Team, Shemaine Campbell – Runner up Junior Sportswoman, Jervina Straker – Junior Sportswoman, Jason Ray Khalil – Runner up junior sportsman, Geron Williams – Junior sportsman, Alika Morgan – Runner up Sportswoman, Cleveland Forde – runner up Sportsman, Nicolette Fernandes – Sportswoman and Ramnaresh Sarwan – Sportsman.
The ceremony was attended by the women’s footballers of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and host Guyana who are currently battling in the World Cup qualification series, while chairman of the National Sports Commission Conrad Plummer was the chairperson.
