Horseracing to get King Size investments – Minister of State
Sep 04, 2016, , http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....s-minister-of-state/
The government of Guyana is set to invest billions in the development of sports in the country – through infrastructure and human development. Though some are slow to come by, residents are holding the government to it promises.
Plum Plum winning the highly competitive E class event.
Horseracing, which is known as the ‘Sports of Kings’, is set to receive a sizable slice of the pie which if all goes well is set to propel the sports to new heights comparable to the days of Durban Park.
Those assurances were given by no other than the Minister of State within the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, when he gave brief remarks at the Second Annual ‘Real Guyana Cup’ Horserace meet held last Sunday at the Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima Park, West Coast, Berbice.
The Minister was among the thousands that had thronged the venue to be a part of the action of the horserace meet that was held in honour of his Excellency President David Granger. Harmon was repeating sentiments he made a year ago at the first event and those made earlier at another event by Director of Sport Christopher Jones.
According to the Minister Harmon, who was deputizing for his Excellency President David Granger who was unavoidable absent, most of the assistance will be channeled through the Ministry of Sports with the Director being the point man.
He stated that there are plans to begin with the upgrade of two of the horseracing facilities- the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) at Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice and the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC) Arima, Park West Coast, Berbice.
Questioned by Kaieteur Sport about a time line for the startup of the upgrades, since the same promises were made last year, Harmon said that –he is definite that patrons will see some work being done before the year is over.
He could not give a specific time or the nature of work to be done, but stated that he is certain that work will be done at the two venues.
He said that Director of Sport Christopher Jones will give more definite answers as to the nature, time and scope of work to be done. He is certain that work will be done on the tracks while some new inventions will be done.
Popular horse owner and businessman Colin Elcock are among a number of persons calling on the government to put some money into the sport like what was done for Motor racing and make, if not all a few of the tracks all weather tracks.
The Sports Director had stated that the Ministry of Sports is working assiduously to have the draft horseracing legislation tendered in Parliament and passed so has to bring some semblance of order in Horseracing. He is hoping to have it done before the end of the year.
The Director of Sport had also stated that the Government of Guyana will be moving to take more control of the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) which is under the control of the Government of Guyana through Guysuco.
Efforts to contact the Director of Sports for a firm comment proved futile.
The PMTC was left for the people of Guyana as a recreational facility by the British. However it is only being used for horseracing. (Samuel Whyte)
