Landmark Providence Stadium dedicated
By Chamanlall Naipaul
Guyana Chronicle
November 9, 2006
THE Providence Stadium on the East Bank Demerara, the venue for Cricket World Cup 2007 matches here, was dedicated yesterday by Indian Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who headed a large delegation on a three-day visit which ends today.
The ceremony was punctuated with cultural items, including performances by members of the Indian Cultural Centre, depicting traditional dances of the Indian states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, a dance by the National School of Dance and songs by the boys choir of the West Ruimveldt Primary School in Georgetown.
The stadium, which became a reality though an agreement between the governments of India and Guyana providing for a US$6M grant and a US$19M loan on concessionary terms, will now ensure that international cricket continues here.
India is billed to play a match at the stadium on April 7 during the Cricket World Cup 2007 tournament.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, at the stadium dedication ceremony, said the hosting of test cricket is preserved in Guyana for the next 75 years -- the guaranteed life span of the Providence stadium.
He called the ceremony a “red letter day” for sports in Guyana and said the stadium is a work of art and a wonder to behold.
He paid special gratitude to India and its people for their contribution in making Guyana’s dream of having a national stadium a reality.
The Head of State declared: “The stadium represents a major landmark of the traditionally friendly relations between India and Guyana.”
President Jagdeo recalled that since the establishment of diplomatic relations on May 26, 1966 between the two countries, there has been a steadfast relationship characterised by shared values and aspirations, and the culture of the fore-parents of India who came to Guyana has been harmoniously fused into the national culture.
Recalling that the demands of the International Cricket Conference (ICC) were daunting to the faint-hearted, President Jagdeo assured that preparations in Guyana for hosting Cricket World Cup Cricket 2007 are on track.
Alluding to the sterling contribution India has been making to help fellow developing countries, Mr. Jagdeo appealed to India to help Guyana develop capacity in the field of information technology (IT) in which the sub-continent is a leader on the global stage.
The President identified IT, tourisma agro processing and diversification of economic activities as the key areas Guyana intends to pursue in advancing economic development.
He also reiterated Guyana’s support for India becoming a Permanent Member on the United Nations Security Council.
He noted that the stadium is one of the developments that will contribute to tourism in Guyana and expressed his gratitude to India for its contribution in this area.
As regards assistance in IT, the President said it will help Guyana, which inherited a small and fragile economy from its colonial past, bridge the digital divide.
Turning his attention to hosting Cricket World Cup 2007 from a regional standpoint, the President said it is a test of the Caribbean to project itself as a unified group, noting that sports is a cohesive element, particularly in the context of a multi-ethnic society such as Guyana.
He also explained that the conception of the stadium was contextualised against the background that the ICC had indicated that the Bourda cricket ground in Georgetown had outgrown itself as an international cricket venue, and Guyana could have been debarred from hosting test cricket.
The President also disclosed that a management plan will shortly be unveiled to ensure optimum use of the stadium.
Mr. Shekhawat described the stadium as a “beautiful edifice which symbolises and demonstrates the friendship between the peoples of India and Guyana and an example of South-South cooperation to which India is committed.”
He said it was also an expression of the passion for cricket by India and Guyana.
The Indian Vice-President stressed too that his country is committed to a policy of peace, tolerance, respect, understanding and cooperation and building new human relationships in the context of globalisation.
He assured that his country is committed to democracy and liberty and developing an international environment of peace and said it has demonstrated that complex problems of development can be addressed.
The Indian Vice-President further assured his country’s best efforts to ensure that relations with Guyana continue to flow and flourish.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony said the stadium represents a monument to the existing strong friendship between India and Guyana, and expressed gratitude on behalf of the government and people of Guyana to the Indian government and people for their generous support in making the stadium a reality.
Anthony declared that the true significance of the stadium could only be understood by those who appreciate the socio-economic importance of cricket to Guyanese and their Caribbean counterparts, underscoring its role in regional unity.