It was a day filled with lots of action as the Upper Mazaruni hosted its District Sports Council’s 22nd Annual Games held at Jawalla Village.
A demonstration of skill and training at the Upper Mazaruni Games (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of the Presidency)
Present at the Games was President David Granger, who delivered the feature address to the village encouraging them to take advantage of the benefits of sports.
“I am happy to be here again; every time I come to Jawalla, Upper Mazaruni, I am always surprised. Today, I was very surprised to see the floodlights, the new buildings and to see your wonderful young people here. One of these days, I will return and I will feel as though I am here at Providence Stadium. Sport is very important to us in the Government; sport is a part of our culture, and here in the Upper Mazaruni, you have led the way in terms of Village Day and village organisation. Sport is important for building self-confidence, sport is important for discipline, it is important for fostering leadership, for winning and losing sport is important to the hinterland. Our government is trying to erase the difference between the hinterland and the coastal area,” the President said.
President Granger also congratulated the village on the show that it put on display. He stated that the day of sport was a momentous occasion as it illustrated the unity of the 16 villages coming together.
He went on to urge the villages to follow the four C’s – namely competition, cooperation, commitment and cohesion. The President told the athletes that sport was not about hatred but about the commitment of ideals and social cohesion, in terms of the relationship between the people.
In closing, the Head of State said, “Upper Mazaruni, your games are a model for the rest of the nation; this is not a political forum. But this is a national forum and Guyana is proud of you, wherever you are from. This is a model that I would like other districts and regions to emulate. I am proud to be here and I congratulate you for the effort you have made in making these games possible for the last 22 years.”
