President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Friday declared that the newly commissioned Anna Regina Stadium will transform Region Two into a major sporting destination, creating opportunities for athletes, boosting tourism and ensuring residents no longer have to travel to Georgetown to experience international cricket.
Addressing hundreds gathered for the commissioning ceremony, 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.
“We are celebrating not only the opening of a stadium. We are celebrating the beginning of something new,” President Ali said.
He 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 submitted an application to host matches in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) next year.
The head of state said the facility would eliminate longstanding barriers faced by cricket lovers in Region Two, many of whom previously endured costly and exhausting journeys to Georgetown to watch international matches.
Recalling the experience of a typical cricket fan from Essequibo, President Ali described the hours-long trip involving buses, speedboats and overnight accommodation simply to attend a match at the National Stadium.
“Today, the children of Region Two can dream without first calculating transportation costs. Today, parents can cheer from their own region. Today, Essequibo takes its rightful place on Guyana’s sporting map,” he declared.
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.
President Ali said the investment reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring world-class facilities are accessible across Guyana, rather than being concentrated in more populated regions.
“This is an investment that many doubted…but as we did in Region Ten, as we did in Region Four, and as we are doing in Region Six, we are making world-class facilities accessible to every single citizen, every single family,” he stated.
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.
“We have invested in this facility because we believe in your ability,” he told the gathering, adding that the country now looks forward to producing future cricketing legends from Essequibo.
President Ali also outlined a series of complementary investments aimed at accelerating the region’s development, including the construction of a new asphaltic road to Mainstay, the planned four-lane highway from Supenaam to Charity, a medical school to be established in Region Two.
Two before 2030, continued economic diversification through tourism, agro-processing and manufacturing, and a 50 per cent reduction in electricity costs.
He said these initiatives form part of the Government’s broader vision of creating opportunities for families and ensuring every region benefits from Guyana’s rapid development.
“We are building a comprehensive ecosystem for the success of your children, the success of your family,” President Ali said.
The commissioning ceremony featured cricket legends Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, whose presence the President described as adding historic significance to the occasion.