Guyana’s newly-appointed Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., plans to use his skillset and broad network to advance policies and programmes in the sector.
Speaking to media operatives, moments after taking the Oath of Office on Wednesday, Ramson Jr., 36, said: “The President (Dr. Irfaan Ali) recognises that over 60% of the population of Guyana is below the age of 35. For the last five years, this country has had a lack of strong youth leadership and an absence of sport leadership.”
“The President, as well as the party, also believes that all three areas (Culture, Youth and Sport) require strong leadership. It requires us to get organised so that we could help to transform the country and also to unify the country, and it is a critical component of who we are as a people and part of the healing process.”
With regards to sport development under his tenure, Ramson Jr. believes a structured and sustainable approach is necessary to foster growth.
“Right now sport is very disorganised. We cannot have sport function in a way where it is operating in an ad hoc manner- at one time somebody thinks this is a good idea or one group thinks this is a good idea.
“In order to create a sustainable sport development programme that is a sport economy as well, because sport is a business too, we need a system that is sustainable and that can only be done through organised stakeholders and people that are connected to the overall development trajectory of the country.”
“Sport is more than just hobbies and staying fit; it is far bigger than that. It is one of the largest sectors in the world and it could very well be transformational for the country as well, by being able to draw on our human capital and our talents as young people.”
Ramson Jr. recently graduated from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, with a Masters of Science degree in Oil and Gas engineering.
In the administration’s deliberation on a suitable candidate to head the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, he was given the nod.
“Most of you know that I have a very strong sports background even though I was doing Oil and Gas and was speaking regularly on Oil and Gas subjects; I have always been doing sports-related issues and sports-related programmes,” he said.
“As far as providing the young leadership in this country for which there is a strong voice, both the President and the party felt as though this was the best role for me.”
Ramson Jr. said he is elated to be entrusted with transforming “such critical areas of our country and to help with that reaching over the divide.”
“It’s a difficult thing to do because it’s a very diversed culture, a very diversed population and it requires a lot of lateral thinking and being able to have the credibility to reach over the divide.”
Ramson Jr. also graduated with a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School, University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, and LL.B (Hons.) Law from the University of Buckingham, Buckingham, England, United Kingdom.
