Guyana needs to professionalise sports sector – Jagdeo

Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has expressed an intention to push Guyana’s sports sector in a more professional direction in order to allow athletes to profit from their talents.

During a youth forum at the just concluded Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, held last week at the Marriott Hotel, the Vice-President made his intentions known in responding to an inquiry.
Indicating that Government is doing its part in terms of providing infrastructure, Jagdeo said there needs to be efforts geared at professionalizing Guyana’s sports sector.
“We’re investing heavily in infrastructure and recreational facilities, we have to now support this by programmes. How do we get to professionalise this to make it a business? People can earn money from sports,” he declared.
As Jagdeo continued in his response, he highlighted Guyana’s small population as a hindrance.
“It’s something that is worth doing. We provide some opportunities for the sportsmen who distinguish themselves, so we may be able to find a job for them in Government for them to help their income; but that’s not the model we’re talking about, where we could make good money from sports,” he declared. “The problem though is the size of our population and the audience size is small, so we have to internationalise it.”
The Vice-President revealed that Government has already identified ways in which the situation can be remedied, starting with bringing more internationally acclaimed events to the Land of Many Waters. One such event is the hosting of Elton Dharry’s upcoming title fight on Guyanese soil.
“You hit the nail on the head. We have to work together to do this, to make it a place where a person can earn a living just by doing sports. Not just, you know, get a little small-time job and then have to hustle elsewhere, and can’t dedicate their time,” Jagdeo explained.