Region 10 MP calls for establishment of UG campus in Linden, better sporting opportunities- for athletes.

Region 10 Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira in his budget debate speech, called on the Government to establish a University of Guyana (UG) campus in the town, as this would alleviate the financial, physical and mental struggles the hundreds of students experience who attend the tertiary institution. With UG transitioning back to face-to-face learning, discussions surrounding this decision, would be welcomed by students. In addition, Figueira, who is also the shadow minister for Culture, Youth and Sport, called for more than infrastructural investment in sport for Region 10 athletes. Currently the Bayroc Community Ground is being transformed into synthetic track while the Mackenzie Sports Club is being transformed into a multi-purpose facility. “Our athletes need more than a completed track and upgraded grounds, our athletes need those facilities to be furnished with gyms and athletic training equipment, different sports gears for the respective disciplines, trained coaches, exchange programmes and scholarships for our gifted athletes,” he said.  

While expressing appreciation for the increase in funding for sports in the 2023 budget, Figueira said the majority of the funding will go towards infrastructure, but more is needed for the development of sports. “The development of sports requires much more than infrastructural development, that is most welcomed.” MP Figueira called on attention to be placed on including more sporting disciplines in the Ministry’s plans. For example, in Linden, there is no facility for cricket to be played.

Meanwhile Minister Ramson blasted the opposition member for calling for more to be done in sports when the synthetic track could not have been completed under the APNU-AFC tenure. The project which commenced in 2018, was unable to see fruition in 2020 despite many promises to have it completed in 2018. The contract for the track was signed in 2018. “…….by the end of 2018, then they said it would be assured by the end of 2019… they never even paid for the synthetic material,” Ramson said. The material was paid for in May, 2021 and the laying of asphalt was completed in October 2021. The completion of the laying of the synthetic material is scheduled for April this year.