Schoolgirls participating in this year’s Janet Jagan birth anniversary windball tournament can go all the way to the top.
So said Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr., who told participants of the various teams that if they were looking for inspiration, or someone to emulate, they needed to look no further than the late President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Janet Jagan.
“Associate yourself with the tournament and former President Janet Jagan knowing that you can go all the way to the top. You can get and do any job there is,” said Ramson Jr., whilst delivering the feature address at the National Gymnasium.
The main message from the Minister however, was togetherness.
“Over the next few weeks you’re going to be able to play against each other but at the same time you have to learn to play with each other. All team sports call for togetherness. The best teams are the ones that are best able to play together,” he declared.
At the end of his speech, the Minister had a special surprise for the participants.
“At this tournament I will give you a special prize. The two finalists will get a trip to Fort Zeelandia because we want you to explore our country.
“On behalf of the Ministry, and the National Sports Commission, we wish you all the best. Know that you’re part of a great tournament and legacy that helped to change Guyana. We want you to excel so you can change our country too,” he declared.
Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, said during the tournament some of the participants might encounter challenges in much the same way the late President Jagan did.
“I think this tournament is happening because Janet Jagan mothered the country during some of the most difficult times. During the course of this competition you will find difficult times but you should fight on as Janet Jagan did to push your team further,” he declared.
Tournament organizer, Alister Munroe, in his address, revealed that after the tournament, the organisers will possibly select a team for an upcoming windball tournament in Barbados sometime next year.
He also thanked the National Sports Commission and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for helping to push the initiative of developing the game of windball amongst schoolgirls.
The Janet Jagan birth anniversary schoolgirls windball cricket competition is being held in honour of Guyana’s first and only female President to date.
The tournament will see over 15 all-female school teams clashing over the next few weeks, schools such as Good Hope Secondary, Zeeburg Secondary, Leonora Secondary, President’s College, Annandale Secondary and more. Surprisingly there are no participating schools from the capital city.
