‘My Ministry will not operate in a vacuum’ – Min. Ramson Jr.
— National Sport Policy under review
— Ministry to become more ‘event-driven’
DPI, Guyana, Sunday, August 16, 2020
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Hon. Charles Ramson Jr., has assured that his Ministry will be comprehensively reshaping sport locally, thereby allowing for a wider range of disciplines.
Minister of Sports, Hon. Charles Ramson Jr. addressing journalist during a familiarization session at the Duke Lodge on August 15.
The Minister was addressing journalists during a familiarisation session held at Duke Lodge, Kingston.
High on the Minister’s list is the re-drafting of the National Sport Policy, which has languished under the previous APNU+AFC Coalition Administration. The updating of the policy, he noted, will ensure better decisions are made for sport in the country.
To this end, the Minister said he intends to hold future consultations with the necessary stakeholders to discuss what, if any, amendments to the document need to be made.
“We [the PPP/C Government] will reopen that avenue for there to be an engagement, in the form of a workshop, to go through the National Sport Policy to exclude and include various agendas,” Minister Ramson stated.
He also posited that sport in Guyana is more than a pastime, and has entered the arena of the business world.
“We have to become an event-driven Ministry, and we must have mass engagement. To change the trajectory of sport, we have to give sponsorship avenues to local and overseas sponsors.”
For the immediate future, the Minister disclosed that he will continue to meet with various sport organisations to determine what is the current condition of their facilities, and whether it is feasible for specific sporting disciplines to be competing during the pandemic.
Over the past week, Minister Ramson met with executives of Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).
It was also disclosed that discussions are still ongoing for a suitable person to fill the post of the Director of Sport.
Media operatives in attendance at the familiarisation session
Concerning the Culture and Youth aspect of his responsibilities, the Minister described it as a “cross-pollination” of the department heads. “We want to tap into the cultural aspects along with the sport [aspect]. It’s a good fusion to create, and one which will entertain Guyanese and help up appreciate each other and relish in our country’s diversity.”
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