Dear Editor,
February 21 marked another memorable day for all Guyanese and especially for the Culture Youth and Sport Ministry/National Sports Commission and the sport fraternity. The National Sports Resource Centre was commissioned by the Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.
This Gy$55 million project adds to the ambience of the National Racquet Centre which accommodates the tennis and squash courts. The commissioning of this important and necessary facility marks a new beginning for sport in Guyana.
The resource centre will create the opportunity for athletes to be exposed to information, via print and electronic media, which will take them and the various sports disciplines to the highest level.
The resource centre is the forerunner for a national sport institute which is an essential necessity if Guyana is to continue with positive development in the world of sport.
This aesthetic and educational facility is expected to give guidance training and certification to the stakeholders in sport – athletes, coaches, umpires, referees, scorers, journalists, managers, chaperons, technical persons and even the general public.
The facility houses a library of books covering various sports disciplines which will guide all involved for the proper preparation and effective management, a section for online researchers and a conference room which will be used for theoretical training and presentations.
To complement the impressive commissioning ceremony, which was attended by a large number of Guyanese, was the lecture, entitled, the “History and Development of Cricket in Guyana and the West Indies (1860s-1960s), which was conducted in the conference room.
This historic educational talk was done by the eminent Professor Clem Seecharan, Professor of Caribbean History, Head of Caribbean Studies, London Metropolitan University.
Dr Seecharan is a Guyanese writer and historian of Indo Caribbean experience, as well as a historian of West Indies cricket. Among his alma maters are Sheet Anchor Anglican School, Berbice Educational Institute, Queens College (Guyana), MacMaster University (Canada) and the University of Warwick (London).
In 2002, Clem was awarded a Professorship in History at the London Metropolitan University where he is now Emeritus Professor of History. He was also in 2002, awarded a Certificate of Distinction by the Guyana High Commission (UK) for his “achievement in his profession in the United Kingdom”.
As a distinguished historian, he is the author of a number of publications. Professor Seecharan’s most successful, respected and admired lecture attracted the attendance and attention of many recognised Guyanese in the calibre of Dr Frank Anthony, Dr James Rose, Dr Ian McDonald, Dr Rupert Roopnarine, Dr Tota Mangar, Doreen De Caries, Hector Edwards, Conrad Plummer, Alfred King and foreign diplomats, among others.
The impeccable lecture generated much interesting and inspiring discussions from the cadre of highly trained minds who were present. It is anticipated that the lecture will set the stage for monthly occurrences which will attract large attendance of persons of various levels.
The Government of Guyana over the last decade invested heavily in the construction of world class sport facilities. The Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, the Aquatic Centre, the Racquet Centre, the Synthetic Track at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, along with the tremendous development of Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and the National Gymnasium, are all proud achievements.
With the resource centre, preparation for the future of sports in Guyana will ensure better performances of our athletes and officials.
The time is now when Guyana must develop a pro-active approach to the advancement of sport. The development of our human resources is imperative. The government must play the lead role in the new challenge of sport in this country.
Sincerely,
Neil Kumar
Director of Sport