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

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

The presentation was made in the presence of Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, Natural
Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Amerindian Affairs
Ministry, Ryan Toolsiram, Regional Councillor, Rajkumar Singh who is also playing in the
tournament, and Toshao of Campbelltown, Jillian Williams. The Amerindian Affairs Ministry
also announced that they are sponsoring the winning trophy. The ministry said that based on their
response, they are looking to continue supporting the sport in the region. Toolsiram pointed out
that 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,” Toolsiram said.
Sukhai noted that the tournament fosters camaraderie among people of different cultures, which
is integral to nation building. Meanwhile, the Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle said that they are
examining ways to assist the community to upgrade the playgrounds. Ninvalle stressed that the
Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry 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,” Ninvalle explained.
He declared that the commission has been continually supporting sports in Guyana, hosting the
first ever National Sport Conference back in October.