The Annual Heritage Games, which highlights the abilities indigenous peoples throughout Guyana, got underway with much fanfare on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at the Everest Cricket Club (ECC) Ground, Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown. The games are anticipated to be filled with thrilling gameplay and ardent spectators.
Defending Female Champions GT Kainamas along with The Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jnr and Minister Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai
The event, which is the hallmark of Amerindian Heritage celebrations, shines a spotlight on Indigenous sportsmanship and culture will see the participation from 735 athletes. As such, this year’s theme, “Many Voices, One Song,” emphasizes unity and the rich heritage of Guyana’s Indigenous peoples.
While declaring the Games open Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Charles Ramson Jnr. emphasized the impact of their investment on the development of the games giving playing a platform to showcase their talent.
The Minister said “Every year this has been a development and a progressive investment year on year on year that we have been making so that we can get it to this point. Year after year that investment has been made so that you the athletes, the sportsmen and women you get the opportunity to not just play in your village but to play to represent your village and to represent your region. It’s done so that you can get the platform to showcase your skills and that those skills wherever they are in your villages they require investment.”
The Minister went on to reiterate the investments towards community grounds in Hinterland Communities.
The Minister said, “In the previous five years before we returned to office, the entire five years, the previous administration spent just $90 million on community grounds in the last four years, his year included, we have spent over $570 million on community grounds in the hinterland alone. So that every single year when we continue to see your sporting talent, that the investment that’s being made on your community ground is then showcased here at the Heritage Games.”
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai while giving brief remarks divulged on the growth of the games and the longevity of the event with their investment.
The Amerindian Affairs Minister shared, “Today, Heritage has grown, Heritage Sports is now twenty -five years old and that speaks for volumes for the People’s Progressive Party’s investment in the Amerindian Youths. Heritage Sports is one of the biggest, the hugest events that showcase the talent of the athletes for the Amerindian and Hinterland Communities including the coastal communities in fact from all ten administrative regions therefore the event this year boasts of 735 Young athletes.”
THE Heritage Games will the participation of athletes over the next three days in Athletics, Swimming, Cricket, Football and Volleyball with the finals for each competition set for Sunday at the same venue.
