President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Wednesday said that Guyana will be hosting the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) finals for the next three years with flair and pizazz.
The Head of State made this announcement as he officially launched the Cricket Carnival and CPL 2022 at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.
“On September 30, for the first time in CPL history, the finals will be in Guyana, and not only will the (2022) finals be in Guyana, but for the next three years, the finals will be in Guyana.”
He said that in the continuous drive to bring people together and to unify the country, there is no better way than through sport and culture.
Cricket Carnival in 2022 will be held under the ‘One Guyana’ banner.
“It is a fusion of the rich, vibrant Caribbean culture with the smoothness and suave of the South American culture, both enjoyed here in destination Guyana.”
The President assured that not only would there be the best of cricket, but the best of culture celebrated during that period.
He noted too that while the Cricket Carnival will be a product set apart from any other, its primary aim is bringing the region together.
He said, “We want the entire region to be prosperous, and we are building something here to bring the region together. So, what you will see is a plan that will bring the best carnival bands in the region on the shores of Guyana in a clash of the Carnival champions from Miami, Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, Brazil, Guyana. We will bring them together on the shores of Guyana in the grand event in the region, the Cricket Carnival 2022.”
IMPRESSIVE LINE-UP OF EVENTS
The inaugural Cricket Carnival will feature a regional food festival, a regional as well as an international concert and a Guyana Night, among many other exciting events, in addition to the highly anticipated cricket matches.
Spectators were also promised excitement in the stands come September.
“The stands will be colourful. The stands will be energetic. The stands will be filled with life because that is what the Caribbean is about- people who enjoy life, people who are filled with life.”
He also announced that the Ministry of Tourism is also working on launching a special CPL Cricket Carnival Cruise to Guyana to help people who might have problems getting flights to the two-week of activities.
This impressive line-up of events planned, he added, will be “world-class” and will demonstrate that Guyana is “not playing third place or second place, we are playing among the best with the best, for the best.”
“That is the new culture. We are developing a willing, winning culture with great humility; with the greatest of humanity we want to play where the best play. So, CPL would not be played louder in September here. It will be played at the loudest in Guyana.”
The President also lauded the CPL’s Chief Executive Officer, Pete Russell, for his announcement that a local talent search will be launched as part of the mega event this year.
“I am very delighted that my good friend Pete has already announced that CPL will be doing a talent search in Guyana to find our best male and female artistes, and those artistes will be the celebrities for Carnival Cricket 2022.”
President Ali reminded of the power of cricket in unifying people from across the region.
“So let me say this, we open our arms in love and unity in the hope to welcome every single guest in September for two weeks to CPL Cricket Carnival in Guyana. Go now and book your rooms and book your flight.”
He urged all of Guyana to be part of welcoming the rest of the world to this mega event, which will be a new product for the country.
“This is much more than cricket. This is building a new product for Guyana. This is building a new product for the economy. This is building and creating opportunities for many Guyanese,” he declared.
Amidst the exhilaration, the Head of State reminded of the hard work and efforts put into the development of this unique product.
He, therefore, expressed appreciation to the CPL team, the Ministries of Culture, Youth and Sport, Tourism Industry and Commerce and the many sponsors and supporting units. (Office of the President Press Release)
