Petra Organisation continues to make a meaningful impact in local football by adding lights to the Ministry of Education, Carifesta Avenue on Monday.
The initiative was made possible through a public/private partnership between the Education Ministry and the organisation. Delivering brief remarks at the simple but important event, Minister of Education Nicolette Henry said that the commissioning of the lighting system is an important event in the history of education development.
Education Minister Nicolette Henry assisting a lad to cut the ceremonial ribbon to commission the lighting system
She told those in attendance that the government of Guyana is very interested in merging sports with education and culture so as to produce young people that are holistically developed.
Henry added that the event signals the partnership between sports and education and represents a new pathway towards providing improved facilities to foster the development of sports.
The persons that will use the venue will have more time to work on their skill and fitness levels since the facility can now be used for extended hours, according to the Minister.
Those in attendance, which included primarily persons in the football fraternity were assured by the Minister that the Ministry of Education will continue to work to give young people the best opportunity to develop in sport.
According to Co-Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca, the installation of the lighting system represents the mandate of the organisation to use sports as a vehicle for the development of football from the under 11 to the senior level.
The lighting system now installed at the Ministry of Education ground
Mendonca explained that Petra has been using the Ministry of Education ground for the past five years for the Milo and Smalta sponsored football competitions. He said that during that time the organisation noted the importance of lights and the convenience it would offer.
Mendonca said that the organisation approached the Ministry of Education to collaborate and the permission was granted to install the lights on the ground. He said that this could not be possible without the support of sponsors Beepats and Ansa McAl and friends in the sports fraternity.
Representing Ansa McAl, Brand Manager of Smalta, Sean Abel, congratulated Petra for the work it has been doing for football and the youths of Guyana. He said that the lights come at an opportune time and will support the development of youths and football.
Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde said that the Petra Organisation has been on display for the past seven years. He said that the organisation’s efforts have been complemented by work done by the GFF which has embraced a focused approach to youth development.
He said that proper facilities continue to be a major challenge for sports development in Guyana, more so football. To remedy the situation, Forde said that steps have been taken for Guyana to have its first International Football Stadium.
Last April, Forde had participated in the sod turning exercises along with Minister Henry and President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Gianni Infantino at the Providence Community Centre ground where the multi-million US dollar stadium will be built.
Moreover, Forde said on Monday that he is certain that the government of Guyana will continue to have a strong focus on the development of sports which includes the provision of facilities in the years to come.
