$1.3M to aid Reg. 3 youth group

− Min. Norton also donated sport gear and equipment to the group

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, May 2, 2019

Youths attached to the Visionary Adolescent Youth Club will soon be able to play circle tennis to their best ability after receiving a monetary donation of $1.3M and equipment necessary for the development of the sport in the Region 3 community of Lookout High Park.

This donation was made possible by the Ministry of Presidency’s Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport following a request made by the club’s youth leader, Sharon Smartt on Sunday at the National Track and Field Centre, Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). On Thursday morning, the club received the sport gear and equipment as promised.

The monetary donation will be used for either the enhancement of the community ground in Lookout High Park or the Grove Multi-purpose centre pending on the decision from Smartt and other stakeholders.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), the youth leader said the areas highlighted to Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton are ones that she has desperately tried to fulfil since the establishment of the group.

“We have finally hit the hammer on the nail because we have made previous attempts to spotlight this… When I heard about the ministerial outreach, I made sure to be armed with some members of the team to plea my case. I am so happy that the response was good… promises were made which includes us playing a match on May 27.”

Smartt noted that there were also talks about the establishment of a pavilion for the club. This, Smartt said, will definitely be done to ensure job opportunities are given to the region’s young people through the contractor chosen to undertake the project.

According to Minister Norton, since the launch of ‘Bringing the Government to the people’ outreach many individuals have highlighted their needs for the development of their respective clubs and as such, this is a continuation of the department’s mission to assist in every form possible.

“Throughout this simple yet life-changing outreach, I have met persons who have spoken about the needs of their respective clubs which we have helped, and so this will be a continuation to foster that circle tennis fraternity which seems to be developing across the country,” he said.

This is also in keeping with the Coalition Government’s recent commitment to ensure all sport facilities and grounds are upgraded.

The monetary donation was given during the minister’s walkabout in Parika. He stressed the hope that accountability and transparency reign in the club’s operation through a public-private partnership.

“We [Department of Social Cohesion] are hoping to partner with them to get them properly organised and so more of the youth will be attracted to the group. We know the leadership is here, the commitment is there, and we see the excitement from the team,” Minister Norton said.

Neola Damon.

Images: Karime Peters.

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