Dear Editor,
I have been a basketball player, coach, administrator and official in all aspects of the sport for 38 years. Rehabilitation of courts around the country was promised for the last two decades (23 years). I would like the Minister of Sport to take a tour of Burnham Court and see what our talented players endure daily on those poor surfaces.
I am referring to children from St John’s, Christ Church, Bishop’s, St George’s and the clubs in Georgetown.
It’s very disturbing to know that Minister of Infrastructure David Patterson, who was the President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) and the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and Mr Levi who also was a Vice President in the GABF don’t even think about the Basketball facilities around Georgetown.
There is full-size court in the Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue and in East Ruimveldt, etc. I don’t expect President David Granger to order the re-surfacing of these courts; the Sports Minister needs to visit and do something about it.
Our Founder Leader LFS Burnham made sure that sporting facilities were properly kept because it meant a lot to our national development.
I was at a meeting in Linden when Madam Gail Teixeira was the Minister of Sport; at that time Linden was promised an indoor arena and the venue identified was the Retrieve hard court. This never happened. Basketball in Linden needs to have its own facility and come away from the red tape of the Mckenzie Sports Complex.
It’s time our new government built an indoor basketball facility in Linden that could accommodate volleyball, badminton, etc. Let’s stop promising and let it be a reality so that the players and spectators don’t have to run for shelter when it rains. It’s time the sport came away from the Mckenzie Sports Complex. In Kwakwani basketball is a gem; they produced many national players and they are the ruling youth basketball champions at all levels.
I grew up in East Ruimveldt and that community centre ground was well kept. I played cricket, football, basketball and volleyball on that community ground. It is a shame to see that these sports can no longer be played because of the deplorable condition of the ground.
I knew when our Founder Leader LFS Burnham used to come in with ‘Skip’ Roberts and see that his constituency was in order, sports wise. I know that President Granger is very busy but the Minister of Infrastructure, committees and the National Sports Complex need to make a great effort collectively to see that those promises are fulfilled. Sport can bring glory to any country and help the youths to put their energies into something worthwhile.
Years ago it was said that the lotto funds were used for sports, if that is so, let it be done. If the Guyana Olympic Association could do a part, let it be done. We cannot breed champions if we don’t have proper facilities in all disciplines. Collectively the ministers could make it happen.
Yours faithfully,
Dennis Clarke
