“Intent to make Guyana proud” – Ramson, as Cricket Carnival sponsors solidify support

Just over a week before Guyana goes on display for its first-ever Cricket Carnival, over a dozen corporate sponsors have solidified their support for the highly-anticipated event that will go hand in hand with Guyana’s hosting of the back end of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022.

The Cricket Carnival, whose organising committee has been hard at work since the event’s launch in April 2022, has promised to be an explosion of Guyanese culture and talent – a theme that was reiterated at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Wednesday, as sponsors handed over their contributions to the event.

According to the Committee, several sponsors have signed on for each of the 16 events set to be hosted around the country, beginning on September 16.
However, foremost is GTT, which has dished out a mammoth sum towards the events.
“At GTT, we have three simple promises. One is to reliably connect our customers. The second promise we have is to innovate for all in our country and the third promise we have is to strengthen our community and I stand here to announce that in keeping with that promise, we have committed, over the three years of Cricket Carnival, over 150 million Guyana dollars,” GTT’s Chief Operations Officer (COO) Orson Ferguson said, indicating the company’s intent to provide support for the three years that Guyana will host the CPL finals.
“This is a significant investment for us,” Ferguson went on to divulge.
Also on board is Guyana’s other cellular provider, Digicel, whose Chief Commercial Officer, Simone Pierre stated, “We’re proud to be the platinum sponsor for two of the events, the Guyana Festival and the Welcome Vibes, and we look forward to working with the stakeholders to make this a success.”
Although already in collaboration with the Hero CPL, DDL also jumped at the opportunity to be a part of Cricket Carnival.
“We’re very happy to extend that sponsorship to Cricket Carnival. Cricket Carnival is expected to be very big and important to Guyana and as a local brand, El Dorado Rum, we intend to ensure that people enjoy themselves and enjoy themselves responsibly,” DDL’s Brand Manager Larry Wills said referencing El Dorado’s partnership with the Hero CPL as the official spirit of the tournament.

Exposure and opportunities
Meanwhile, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr., while highlighting the plethora of exposure and opportunities that will come for young Guyanese performers, magnified the value of the event’s sponsors.
Ramson Jr explained, “Not everyone was quite sure where we, from the Government’s side and from His Excellency’s side, where we wanted to take this platform and this product. Most of you gave us the chance, as well as the benefit of the doubt of having the vision and knowing that it’s being presented for that beneficial purpose.
“It’s a significant jump, because you’ve not just said we’re wishing you well, you’re saying we’re partnering with you, partnering with you on this vision and the objective.”
“We are intent to make Guyana proud,” the Government Minister asserted.
Currently, from the tourism perspective, hotel rooms are reportedly booked out, while the 300 Bed and Breakfast rooms that were recently made available are also going like hot cakes.
As such, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond hyped the returns that sponsors can reap with the support they have sown.
“Barbados will be launching their Rum and Food Festival, right here at our Food Festival. So, you know the Barbados Rum Festival is a big deal, that’s its own brand, they’ll be coming to Guyana. We’ll be having a Guyanese arm of the Barbados Food Festival.”
“So, I’m just saying all these things for you to realise how big a deal, a product that you’ve signed on to,” Minister Walrond impressed.
In addition, the Minister revealed that there would now be five Carnival bands in the road parade set for Sunday, October 2. One of those bands is based in Orlando, Florida and will be accompanied by Soca sensations Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons.
“Indeed, the eyes of the Region and extra region will be turned to Guyana for Cricket Carnival,” Walrond concluded.
The Cricket Carnival sponsors include Atlas Security, International Import and Supplies, TMK2020, Creamery and Mitco Brands, Associated Brands Ltd, Adamante Holdings, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc, Condor Inc, ANSA McAL, Kares Engineering, AGM, U-Mobile Cellular – Digicel, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and GTT. (Jemima Holmes)