Significant step forward – GSA’s Fernandes on sport budget

The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) on Monday became the most recent local sports association to come out in support of sport’s historic $8 billion budget allocation for 2025.
Two Fridays ago, at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, in unveiling Guyana’s $1.382 trillion National Budget for the calendar year, divulged that sport would have $8 billion to fund the development of the sector.
As such, GSA President David Fernandes shared in a missive on Monday,, “On behalf of our sporting community, the Guyana Squash Association would like to extend our thanks to the Government for their support over the years. The focus on enhancing sporting infrastructure for a variety of sports in various regions is helping to build a strong, proud sporting legacy.
This year’s proposed budget is another significant step forward, not just for squash but for all sports in Guyana. It is a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to fostering athletic talent, bringing communities together, and creating opportunities for athletes from all disciplines to shine on the national and international stage. Sport plays a central role in nation-building, helping to shape our national identity, instil pride, and create a powerful, positive image for our country on the global stage.

We are hopeful that the budget, which reflects such a strong dedication to sport, will receive a favourable passage through Parliament this week. The investments made will undoubtedly strengthen our sporting culture, not just in squash but across all sporting fields, creating a brighter future for our athletes and future generations. We sincerely appreciate the Government’s efforts to support both the grassroots and elite levels of sport and look forward to seeing the positive impact this funding will have on all our athletes, coaches, and communities.”
This year’s sport budget is once again centred around the development and rehabilitation of sport infrastructure, while also focusing on the development of elite athletes. The $8 billion allocated to sport this year is a 42.5 per cent increase over the $4.6 billion that was allocated to the sector in the 2024 National Budget.