“It is going to be an exciting year.”
So said Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., yesterday.
The statement was Ramson’s opening salvo when asked about his thoughts on this year’s budget allocation for the sports sector.
On Monday, Senior Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh disclosed that a record $4.3B will be allotted to sports during his 2023 national budget presentation in Parliament.
The sum of $4.3B is a significant increase, it almost doubles last year’s allocation of $2.2B and almost triples the 2021 allocation of $1.5B.
A large chunk of the budget will go towards the development of infrastructure.
Said Ramson Jr., “What’s important for the country in relation to just the overall development is infrastructure. Infrastructure is big on the government’s programme this year and sport is no different in that regard.”
Ramson stated that the $4.3B includes.. “An additional two plus billion dollars worth of projects and about a billion dollars of roll over projects.”
During his presentation on Monday, Singh said that “2023 bodes even better and more brightly than 2022 for sport investment in Guyana.”
He disclosed that funds have been “set aside for the provision of
a National Cricket Academy with the construction of the state of the art stadium at Palmyra also slated for this year.
Additionally, provision is made for other sports infrastructure and development including the construction of multi-purpose facilities in the Hinterland, rehabilitation works at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, construction of stands and grass mounds in Regions 2 and 6, extension of the Squash Courts at the Racquet Centre and Procurement of sports gear.”
From the $4.3B, $250 million is budgeted for the continued improvement of the community grounds. The same was allocated in last year’s budget.
Asked about the highlights for the past year, Ramson Jnr., mentioned some of the projects which were started above and also the ground enhancement initiative.
“We were able to support 55 community grounds across the country since returning to office. We have lit 21 community grounds, it is record breaking stuff.”
He added, “We don’t get to speak about all the stuff that is happening because it is just so much but the communities feel it and it is something I feel very privileged and satisfied about from the point of view of seeing how it makes such an impact on the communities.”
The Sports Minister also divulged that the synthetic facilities in Region 6 and 10 are scheduled to be completed in the last quarter of this year.
Ramson concluded by saying that 2023 will be the year the long awaited Sports Policy will be enacted. An exciting year for sports in Guyana is envisioned.
