Dr. Ashni Singh, the Minister of Finance announced yesterday that a total of $4.6 billion has been earmarked in the National Budget for this year for the sports sector. This marks an improvement on 2023’s budget which had allocated $4.3 billion for sports.
In an invited comment to Stabroek Sport, Director of Sports at the National Sports Commission (NSC), Steve Ninvalle has lauded the budget allocation.
“Under the astute leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Irfaan Ali, the government has again delivered, not only to the sporting sector but right across all government agencies and has delivered to every Guyanese”, Ninvalle declared.
He maintained; “At the NSC, we are extremely happy that we have, in a much larger way, been able to support the various sport disciplines through the government’s allocation.
With this year’s allocation, we are even in a much better position to deliver on its (government’s) promises to the sporting fraternity”.
Ninvalle also highlighted the investments that the government has pumped into the various sectors of sport.
“It is important that we understand that since 2020 when the government came into office, the sporting sector has seen a meteoric rise in support for sports and this has translated to improved performances on the national and international scenes with our athletes paying dividends on the government’s investment.
The allocation will see another turn for better development in sports in the upcoming year”.
Meanwhile, the Ground Enhancement Programme which saw over 150 community grounds receiving much needed works in 2023 will receive a major boost in 2024 with $1 Billion set aside for that project. Another project that will receive a major boost is the construction of multi-purpose sport halls in Regions One, Two, Three, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten.
Those projects will see $957 Million bolstering their construction and furnishing in 2024.
