Egotistic Servers continue to hamper the future of our sportswomen and men
Letter to Sports Editor…
Dear Sports Editor,
Kaieteur News – Minister of Youth Culture and Sport Charles Ramson Jnr. his stance on the blatant claim that football was responsible for damaging Guyana National Stadium, Providence pitch, should be praised.
Stories highlighting this iniquity appeared in three of the daily newspapers earlier this week. Minister Ramson was quick to call out the authors of this wicked act as he visited the facility to further expose the writers’ mischief.
The published photo claimed the damaged field at the Providence facility was fake. In addition, the outfield as well as the real field are in almost perfect shape as seen in yesterday’s newspapers and electronic media.
For too long egotistical administrators have been playing selfish games with our sports women and men’s futures. There should be no problem with either cricket, football or any other sport using the Providence facility. As a matter of fact, rugby was also played at this facility.
Let me also remind you that the Kashif and Shanghai Foundation who coordinated the Bounce Back Football Fiesta along with the Guyana Football Federation and Ministry of Youth Culture and Sport would have held many football tournaments at this facility and never had it damaged.
International football matches were also played there including the now famous 11.11.11 when Guyana dropped Trinidad and Tobago to reach the third stage of the FIFA World Cup Eligible with his Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo in attendance among other Ministers of the government on this historic day.
So how now is the world’s greatest sport accused of damaging this revered facility? Shame on the authors of the article and this misleading and mischievous picture.
As Minister Ramson said, each application to use the Stadium must be considered on its own merits and the facility keeper (Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport) would then determine approval given the nature of the application and its importance.
This facility in question is huge enough to be used by multiple sports bodies and is based again on Minister Ramson’s words; His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali has already given the go-ahead for maximum use.
The large tarmac is already used by various groups for softball cricket and small sided football. Cycling at some point had approached the previous administration for the use of the internal roads in view of the accidental deaths of many of its members and even other civilians.
With adequate facilities still a challenge in this land, associations and federations must be wise enough to put their plans into action and approach the MCYS to be able to access its facilities including Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Gymnasium National Park, Tarmac Cultural Center, National Park Tarmac and Carifesta Sports Complex amongst others.
The other Ministries that also own facilities must make a concerted effort to maintain and make them accessible to their employees and even sports associations and federations who so wish, subject to a prescribed procedure .
It is welcome news that the government is proceeding with the construction of three multi-purpose facilities at Linden, Berbice and Essequibo that would undoubtedly bring tremendous ease to our athletes.
There is no doubt that this nation is endowed with naturally talented athletes but our continued lack of facilities to develop the talent has always been one of our major challenges. The earnest wish of all right thinkers is that our administrators begin to demonstrate the right vision to really transform the fate of our athletes.
Guyanese also wishes to establish the National Sports Commission (NSC) shortly after the 1993 Act and that the appointed Commissioners are all strong and working towards taking our sport to new positive heights.
Sports Administrators need to stop the folly of playing cheap politics; reach out to each other and think of innovative ways to make the best use of national facilities. We all love to see our politicians working together for the common good of the nation; likewise, let’s see our Sports Administrators do the same for the benefit and development of our athletes.
The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) also has a major role to play in ensuring that its members show the will to work together and work together. The future will not be bright unless we strive to put the courtesy aside and embrace the big picture of the nation reaching the heights we know it can.
With history being a pretty judge, how would you like to be remembered?
Yours in sport,
Colin Aaron