The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) is elated to witness the record allotment of $4.3B that was allocated to the sports sector in the 2023 National Budget.
This was disclosed by an official release from the entity. According to the correspondence, the squash association, which has been a major recipient of funding and investment from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, is excited about the level of investment by the government into the sports community. The release stated, “The investments made in both athletes and facilities will work towards sustainable development in our discipline; building on the foundations in place, accelerating growth and affording us the opportunity to get in line with other countries in the region. In fact, the addition of two doubles courts at the NRC will place Guyana in a position ahead of many South American countries, being one of few to boast doubles facilities and make us eligible to host the Pan American Championships,” the release stated.
“This will extend our previous tournament hosting capabilities beyond the Caribbean area to include many more countries for both junior and senior championships; essentially setting us up to become a hub for squash for the broader region. It will allow us to present our unity through sport on the world scene,” it added. The correspondence further stated that the National Sports Commission under the stewardship of Sports Director, Steve Ninvalle, has also played a vital role in several areas of development.
Meanwhile, GSA Vice-President David Fernandes said, “We feel that Culture, Youth, and Sport are important avenues to foster social cohesion and present the best forums to bring people together from every walk of life; as One Guyana. We appreciate the efforts of Minister Ramson and are extremely grateful for the financial and time investments that will positively impact the youths of Guyana. We hope that those same youths will respect the facilities and human resources and that they take the opportunity given to them by the government to push themselves to become great athletes, teammates, Guyanese ambassadors, and leaders of our country.
“The Guyana Squash Association looks forward to the coming months when short-term plans can be executed for their athletes and members that will feed into the longer-term goals and objectives of offering the community benefits of sport for recreation and health, along with getting our athletes into elite status and positions to perform on the international stage. We look forward to continuing support and collaboration with the National Sports Commission and the Government of Guyana to ensure our members are given the resources and opportunities to reach their potential and represent their country”, the release stated.
