Department of Public Information, Guyana

Tag: Steve Ninvalle

  • “Young people are important to our country” – Minister Sukhai

    “Young people are important to our country” – Minister Sukhai

    -presents cricket gear to teams in Region Eight

    In keeping with the PPP/C Government’s philosophy that youth development will build the nation, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs on Saturday, partnered with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, to deliver a quantity of cricket bats, balls and helmets to cricket teams in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

    Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, MP

    Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, MP, and Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle handed over the sporting equipment to team captains who had gathered in Campbelltown, Mahdia for a major tape ball tournament,  

    “For us, the young people are important to our country. We know that young people are the human resource for the future. Our government has coined a very elaborate programme for young people in our manifesto, and we are one year in office, and we are proceeding to implement and execute those commitments we’ve made to the young people of our country in education and job opportunities through more investments,” Minister Sukhai said.

    Government Ministers and other Officials are flocked by the team captains

    The presentation was made in the presence of Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, MP, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, MP, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Ryan Toolsiram, Regional Councillor, Rajkumar Singh who is also playing in the tournament, and Toshao of Campbelltown, Jillian Williams.

    The Amerindian Affairs Ministry also sponsored the winning trophy.

    Based on their response, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is looking to continue supporting the sport in the region.

    Government Ministers and other Officials pose with the first-place trophy

    Toolsiram said from the talent he has seen during the day’s activities; national cricketers can emerge from Region Eight. 

    “These gear will help you enhance your skills that you have already. Hopefully, in the near future, we will see some national players coming out from this event. So, these events nurture the local talent so that we can then be portrayed on a national level. So, I would like to thank you all for being a part of this activity,” he noted.

    Minister Sukhai said the tournament fosters camaraderie among people of different cultures, which is integral to nation building.

    The cricket equipment donated to teams in Mahdia

    Meanwhile, the Director of Sport is examining ways to assist the community to upgrade the playgrounds. He said the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport will supply the community with added amenities to enhance the playfields.

    “It’s quite important that we have sports in our lives, because it’s not just about competition but it’s about sharing too, as we can use sport to better relationships between communities. From the advent of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, we have started our robust ground enhancement campaign. I’m telling you this because, when I saw your ground, hopefully we can assist in making this something that you will be a little prouder about, as it relates to enhancing it, maybe with lights or maybe getting the ground rolled or maybe even helping you to move to another ground.”

    The commission has been continually supporting sports in Guyana, hosting the first ever National Sport Conference back in October.

  • Kwakwani’s sport and recreational facilities assessed for upgrades

    Kwakwani’s sport and recreational facilities assessed for upgrades

    A team of officials have conducted an assessment of several recreational and sport facilities in Kwakwani with a view to ensuring the necessary upgrades are made, for the benefit of the citizens.

    Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Kwame McCoy, MP, joined by Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Kashif Mohamed and others, on Wednesday, visited the football field, the basketball court, the Kwakwani Recreational Centre, the State House, the club house and the swimming pools.

    Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport (ag), Kwame McCoy, MP

    Minister McCoy noted that the assessment of the facilities will determine what works are needed for inclusion in the Recreational and Ground Enhancement Programme.

    “So that we could prepare this community to be able to bring its best potential to the fore and be able to produce the best athletes and sports personalities, like we want to do in every other community across this country and you have seen us invest already in many communities across Guyana.”

    The team inspecting the pool

    The Minister noted that the 2021 budget, which caters for initiatives like the synthetic tracts, mini stadiums and other initiatives gives sportsmen and women a better chance to succeed.

    Ann Gordon, a resident of Kwakwani said there are many youths in the community who stand to benefit from the upgrade of these facilities.

    Resident, Ann Gordon

    “It would be very beneficial to the young people, especially through sports in the area because Kwakwani has been producing top quality level of sportsmen and sportswomen for a number of years now, and one of the things that we definitely need is infrastructure, things improved, because we can’t be going back or stagnated, we need to go forward,” the resident said.

    Chairman, National Sports Commission, Kashif Mohamed

    The Sports Commission Chairman expressed similar views, noting that the Ministry is in support of improving the community.

    “Kwakwani is one of the places that we really wanted to visit because they have produced real top-class athletes throughout the years, the basketball court, they are the champions with basketball at the school level and they continue to produce really, really outstanding players,” he highlighted.

    The team inspects the playfield

    Following the assessment, he pointed out that some of the facilities are in relatively good condition, “some of the buildings are in excellent condition, the football field like most other fields in the country, after the rains and everything needs some work and we are getting an opportunity to see and assess everything that has to be done, with the football field, with the swimming pools and with the basketball court we will take it back get to the drawing boards and do stuff.”

    Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle

    Additionally, Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle noted that since the ministry has been given responsibility for the club house and the State House, the assessment will determine which facilities need to be catered for in the 2022 budget.

    The upgrade of sport and other facilities is in keeping with the PPP/C Government’s commitment to advance sport development in the country, through the necessary investments.

    Kwakwani Recreational Centre
    Kwakwani Recreational Centre
    A room at the Kwakwani Recreational Centre
    A room at the Kwakwani Recreational Centre
    State House at Kwakwani
    State House at Kwakwani