Ramson Jr urges citizens to for care sport facilities

…shares updates on ongoing projects

The Leonora Track and Field Facility, the National Stadium, the National Gymnasium, and two new tracks at New Amsterdam and Linden are among a number of sport facilities receiving attention from the Culture, Youth, and Sport Ministry.

While these developments are significant for Guyana’s sport fraternity, Culture, Youth, and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr has growing concerns about the way that Guyana’s facilities are being treated by citizens.

Ramson Jr got into the matter, after sharing a number of updates on the ongoing works at various sport venues.
At Leonora, on the West Coast of Demerara, a new stand is being constructed, after which bucket seats are expected to be placed, which the Minister says will be the template for venues going forward.
“The main thing is to complete the stand. We started this construction project, it was publicly advertised and awarded through the National Tender Board last year, in the last quarter of last year. So, it’s in the final phases, I guess,” the Minister shared.
Ramson Jr went on to say, “It’s going to be completed by the middle of this year and then we have to install the bucket seats. This is going to be the first stand at Leonora that will have buckets seats and it will be our new design for all of the stands that we do.”
After giving an update on the basketball courts being constructed in the National Gymnasium compound, Ramson Jr turned his attention to the Synthetic Tracks to be set up in Linden and Berbice.
“We purchased the synthetic material already, it’s in the country. It’s right now being stored at the National Stadium. Where there was a holdup was in the asphalting of the tracks because it needed to have 21 days of sunshine. And that’s a tough thing to do when you’ve got rainy season, unexpected rainy season situation.”
The Sport Minister went on to announce, “I’ve also budgeted this year for the completion of a new pavilion at both of the locations and there’s quite likely a possibility that we’ll be able to put in the lights, as well.”
These updates did not come without caution; however, as Ramson Jr lambasted those who seek to destroy aspects of the country’s sport facilities. The Minister has called for a change in culture on how facilities are treated.
“People right now, when it comes to facilities, they want good facilities and they’re expecting good facilities. Now, as a citizen of the country, if I can’t go and use our washroom because I don’t think that it’s acceptable enough, then it means that it can’t be acceptable for the rest of the Guyanese people,” a concerned Ramson Jr said.
“So, if you, for example, in your own home, you’ve got a certain standard how you want your home to be and the cleanliness, etc, well, that should be what our public facilities should look like.”
The Sport Minister warned, “You’re not hurting me, you’re hurting yourself, we built this for you. So, I think our culture needs to change in relation to the care of public facilities, especially ones relating to sport.” (Jemima Holmes)