Pres Ali hands over buses to GCB, GRFU to boost development

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) on Friday each received brand-new 26-seater buses from President Dr Irfaan Ali to significantly ease their logistical burdens, marking a key phase in the Government’s comprehensive sports development drive.

Earlier this year, following consultations with President Ali, the GCB and other major national sporting bodies were promised critical resources – including new transportation – and that promise is now being fulfilled.
President Ali emphasised that these contributions form part of a much broader vision to transform sport into an economic driver, declaring, “I am not looking at cricket here in Guyana alone; we are going to invest massive sums of money in cricket. We will build a world-class facility, academy, infrastructure, and high-performance centres.”
He further underscored that the initiative extends beyond cricket: “Historically, when people spoke about sports in Guyana, they talked about cricket and football. In the last five years, we have developed every single form of sport.”

Building from hinterland up
The operational rollout of the national sports framework – anchored on three pillars: Accessibility, Development, and Exposure – has begun in earnest.
Former West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, who leads the GCB’s hinterland cricket development programme, recently travelled to Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) with Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport Steven Jacobs as part of the first in a series of outreach visits.
The initiative aims to unearth and nurture cricket talent from remote hinterland regions, creating clear pathways for rural and indigenous athletes to rise to elite competition.
The GCB plans to field full hinterland men’s and women’s teams in upcoming tournaments, with the women’s side potentially debuting later this year in the senior inter-county competition.
To support these efforts, President Ali has committed to renovating hostels at LBI and Essequibo, ensuring comfortable accommodation for players travelling from interior regions.

GCB President Bissoondyal Singh expressed gratitude for the Government’s continued support, noting that the bus donation and infrastructural assistance “will relieve a significant burden as the Board works to bring cricket back to the communities.”
In addition, Minister Jacobs said this was “the best time to be a cricketer”, while Minister Charles Ramson Jr added, “The world needs West Indies cricket, and that is why Guyana is taking a lead in its resurgence through strategic development.”

A new era of growth and opportunity
Meanwhile, the GRFU also received its long-promised 26-seater bus, thus fulfilling commitments made during earlier consultations with President Ali. The vehicle will immediately assist the national rugby teams as they prepare for the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens Championship, set for November 21–23 at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, Trinidad.
Guyana, a seven-time RAN Men’s Sevens champion, will seek to regain its dominance as both male and female squads vie for qualification in the HSBC SVNS pathway and the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in the Dominican Republic.
President Ali also announced an ambitious project to build a new home for Guyana Rugby at Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), equipped with training facilities and administrative offices. “We are looking to build a home for rugby – an official facility where you can have all the training amenities you need. That will come on stream in the new year,” he stated.
In a further show of cross-sport collaboration, President Ali revealed a partnership with Fitness 53, owned by Ramnaresh Sarwan, which will allow national rugby players free access to state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facilities.
President of the GRFU, Ryan Dey, expressed his gratitude, noting the President’s pleasing “open door policy” and the equal support from the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry in transforming the sport.
“In two decades, they never had lights until now, and… the field is also improved to a more user-friendly surface,” Dey stated, underscoring the substantial nature of the recent improvements.
Rugby is the latest discipline to benefit from President Ali’s commitment, following similar donations to the Guyana National Rifle Association and the Guyana Cricket Board.
The Guyana Badminton Association and the Guyana Squash Association are scheduled to benefit before the end of the year, and the Guyana Chess Federation will receive assistance early in the new year.
In addition, the Guyana Rifle Association, Guyana Badminton Association, and Guyana Squash Association are expected to benefit from the Guyanese Head of State’s benevolence. Further, the Guyana Chess Federation is expected to receive its support package early next year.