President Irfaan Ali yesterday declared that the newly commissioned Anna Regina Stadium will transform Region Two into a major sporting destination and ensuring residents no longer have to travel to Georgetown to experience international cricket.
Addressing hundreds gathered for the commissioning ceremony last night, the president said the state-of-the-art facility represents more than a sporting venue, it is an investment in the future of Essequibo’s people and the region’s economic development, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported.
The President announced that the stadium is already being positioned to host major regional and international events, including the Over-40 Men’s World Cup, while Guyana has tendered an application to host matches in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) next year.
Built with International Cricket Council (ICC) standard floodlights, the stadium is expected to accommodate international cricket while also serving as a venue for football, athletics and other sporting disciplines, DPI said.
The president expressed confidence that the stadium would inspire a new generation of athletes from Region Two, saying the government believes in the potential of young people to excel at the highest levels of sport.
President Ali also outlined a series of complementary investments aimed at accelerating the region’s development. These include the construction of a new asphaltic road to Mainstay, the planned four-lane highway from Supenaam to Charity and a medical school to be established in Region Two.
The commissioning ceremony featured cricket legends Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, whose presence the President described as adding historic significance to the occasion.
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