Minister of Foreign Affairs launches Inaugural Victory Valley Easter Basketball Tournament
The Honourable Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has launched the inaugural Victory Valley Easter Basketball Tournament in Linden, Region 10.
Minister Todd was accompanied in this endeavour on Sunday, 03 April 2022 by Her Excellency Guo Haiyan, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Guyana, and Dr Peter Ramsaroop, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment.
Minister Hugh Todd and Her Excellency Guo Haiyan, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, engage in a game of basketball
The basketball tournament included three teams in the under-18 category and three teams in the over-18 category competing for the first-place trophy in each category. The tournament, held at the recently commissioned Victory Valley Basketball Court, is expected to be an annual event for the community.
Minister Hugh Todd speaking at the launching of the ceremony
The Basketball Court was rehabilitated after a commitment was made by Minister Todd when he visited the area in 2021. The Minister had made several visits to the community to ensure that work on the site was on track towards the completion of the basketball court. The basketball court will serve the community of Victory Valley in Wismar, which has approximately 800 residents.
According to Minister Todd, these community and youth development initiatives are a priority of the Government, as they foster the togetherness of people in the community and help to achieve the goal of the “ONE GUYANA” Initiative as is conceptualised by His Excellency President Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
The basketball court is just one of the many sports spaces that are being rehabilitated and developed across Guyana to encourage and promote youths to harness their skills and talents.
The teams that competed in the first ever Victory Valley Easter Basketball Tournament were awarded trophies and medals of participation which were provided by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Guyana. The residents of the area, especially the youths, were elated, and welcomed the tournament and expressed their gratitude for the new basketball court. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation)
