The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has received a significant logistical boost as part of a major nationwide push for sports development as President Dr Irfaan Ali has set ambitious goals to position Guyana as a key strategic pillar in the resurgence of West Indies cricket.
Following consultations with the President earlier this year, the GCB and other key national sporting bodies were promised resources, including a new bus, and have begun receiving them.
However, the initiative’s true scale lies in a comprehensive, tripartite framework that aims to unearth and develop talent from across the country, particularly in remote regions.
The operational phase of this major national initiative, designed to bolster cricket and general sport development across Guyana’s remote hinterland regions, has commenced.
Former West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, designated for hinterland cricket development, led the first in a series of planned outreach visits.
In early October, Sarwan travelled to Region Nine alongside Steven Jacobs, the Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport.
This mission marks the rollout of President Ali’s commitment to establishing a nationwide sports development framework, structured around three core pillars: Accessibility, Development, and Exposure.
The programme’s ultimate ambition is the creation of a National Heritage Team across various sporting disciplines, ensuring talent identified outside of traditional coastal hubs is given a clear pathway to elite competition.
For both women and men, full hinterland teams are expected to play in upcoming GCB competitions.
News Room Sport understands that the introduction could happen later this year, with the female side possibly competing in the senior inter-county tournament.
President Ali’s commitment extends far beyond transport and immediate outreach. He assured support for the renovation of the hostel at the LBI facility and the continued development of the hostel in Essequibo, efforts directly linked to accommodating the impending indigenous teams for tournaments.
GCB President Bissoondyal Singh thanked President Ali and the government for their continued support of sport and noted that the bus will relieve a significant burden on the board as it aims to fulfil its mandate of bringing the sport back to the communities.
Investment in Infrastructure and Academies
President Ali declared on the broader vision: “I am not looking at cricket here in Guyana alone; we are going to invest massive sums of money in cricket. We will build a world-class facility, academy, infrastructure, and high-performance centres.”
“We are going to build facilities not only for Guyana but for the region, so we expect the administration to take this very seriously,” President Ali stated, noting the economic success of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the Global Super League in Guyana.
“We are walking this journey with you because we want to position [sport] as an economic good.”
Minister Steven Jacobs echoed the sentiment, stating that, given the support, it is the “best time to be a cricketer.” He noted that he will supervise a structured programme and a key maintenance scheme.
“What we are building out here is important for West Indies cricket,” Jacobs affirmed.
Minister Charles Ramson Jr. reinforced this by stating simply: “The world needs West Indies cricket, and that is why Guyana is taking a lead in its resurgence with strategic development.”
The GCB’s support package is part of a broader commitment to sports nationwide. Similar donations have already been made to the Guyana Rifle Association and the Guyana Rugby Football Union.
The Guyana Badminton Association and Guyana Squash Association are scheduled to benefit before the year is out, with the Guyana Chess Federation lined up for assistance early next year.
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