[www.inewsguyana.com] – Given the rising social problems among young people in rural communities, President Donald Ramotar on Saturday formally handed over a newly constructed pavilion at the Enmore Community Center Ground on the East Coast of Demerara.
The government has allocated $300M for the development of community grounds. Over 100 grounds will be benefiting from grants. Supervisor of the Center’s rehabilitation project, Tejnauth Jadunauth explained that the overall objective of the project is to develop the 50-odd youths of the community and to tackle frontally, issues such as indiscipline.
According to a GINA release, “President Ramotar in brief remarks said that the development of sports and sporting facilities is very important to the overall objective of improving the quality of life for citizens.
He explained that a better quality of life does not only mean more food and money, but includes recreation and a greater appreciation of sports and culture.
The President stated that sporting activities “create solidarity and teach people to work in teams, and we would only be able to achieve things for our communities and our country as a whole, if we work in teams and sports helps to bring this.”
Speaking directly to the large number of youths who were gathered there, President Ramotar pointed out that sports can help people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and discipline, and can keep them from inculcating bad habits such as drug use.
He reminded that the community of Enmore has a special place in the history of Guyana, as it where the struggle for independence began. This community has also been the center of many other working-class struggles for industrial democracy.
Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony said that Enmore has a vibrant cricket club that practices at the ground, where is also being taught.
He said that because of the different sporting activities and the diversity of the groups that have been utilising the community center, the Sport Ministry will be working closely with the community, the Neighbourhood Democratic Council and GuySuco to establish committee to properly manage and maintain the facility. That Committee will be installed within the next week.
Earlier this week, 26 Region Four and another 20 Region Six communities received grants for the development of sport grounds.
“We are going right across the country; there is no region that will be excluded from this programme because we are very serious about getting back sports into our communities,” Minister Anthony stated.
