President of the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA), Christopher Ram, has outlined a 10-point plan while calling for government support in an effort to move the sport forward.

Speaking at the recent presentation of prizes to honour the top players of the just-concluded Banks Masters Invitational tournament, Ram said that eight tennis facilities will be set up at schools in Essequibo, Berbice, East Coast Demerara and Georgetown.

Christopher Ram

“With the support of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission and the private sector, it is planned to establish tennis facilities in a total of eight schools across the country including Anna Regina Mutilateral, New Amsterdam Multilateral, President’s College and Queen’s College,” Ram revealed.

He added that mini-tennis would be introduced in 20 additional schools in areas such as Litchfield, Linden, Anna Regina and New Amsterdam.

According to Ram, the GLTA will also be looking to revitalize several clubs around the country with support from the sugar estates.

The National Park training facilities are likely to receive a shot in the arm with funding from the United National Development Programme and the proposal has been submitted to the international agency.

Ram said the GLTA intends to run off at least 15 tournaments in the new year and also push for the reintroduction of the sport to the Inter-Guiana Games competed annually by  Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname.

The Chartered Accountant said his organization will be looking to work closely with the National Sports Commission in an effort to establish a home for the game and its administration and will be seeking a subvention next year.

He said most of the money allocated to sports in the National Budget do not go directly to the development of sport but the chunk of the funding goes to wages and salaries, travel and utilities.

“For the 2010 Budget, we need to turn this formula on its head so that less money is spent on the administration of sport and far more on sporting activities including cricket, table tennis, squash, hockey and of course tennis,” Ram opined. He also announced that Berbician businessman Anthony Amerally was appointed a vice-president of the GLTA and he will  spearhead a Berbice sub-committee.

Ram, who ident of the GLTA two months ago, said the plans will be put forward to the GLTA executives at the association’s Annual General Meeting set for early next month.