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In any country, the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture stands at the crossroads of national identity, athletic prowess, and the future of its young people. For a nation like Guyana, which boasts a small but vibrant population of youth, an immense budget, and a wealth of talent across all domains—sports, arts, culture—this ministry should be a jewel in the crown of the government.
Yet, under the leadership of Minister Charles Ramson Jr., it has become a sinking ship.
A Ministry Full of Potential
Charles Ramson Jr. has everything at his disposal to be a successful minister. He oversees a nation brimming with gifted young athletes, musicians, dancers, actors, and cultural innovators. Guyana’s population is small, making it easier to craft focused, impactful policies. The resources are available, both in terms of funding and talent. All that is needed is strategic vision and strong leadership to harness these strengths.
One would expect a minister in such a position to thrive—to nurture young athletes, to reinvigorate playgrounds, community sports programs, and cultural institutions across the country. The minister should be a facilitator, giving artists, athletes, and innovators the tools they need to excel. Instead, Charles Ramson seems to view his position as beneath him, a job for which he shows little interest or aptitude.
Incompetence and Insecurity
What is perhaps most baffling is not the potential he squanders but the arrogance and insecurity with which he operates. Ramson publicly lauds his position over others, calling half-baked employee meetings in the ministry’s yard, where he mouths shallow rhetoric about innovation, the future, and topics he only halfway understands. His insecurity is so profound that he refuses to engage talented people directly. Rather than leveraging the expertise of athletes, artists, and cultural leaders, he surrounds himself with sycophants—people who tell him what he wants to hear, while real issues go unaddressed.
This insecure leadership has tangible consequences. Playground facilities across Guyana are overgrown and neglected. The ministry is failing to provide basic support for local sporting activities, let alone foster pathways for athletes to compete internationally. Meanwhile, the arts and culture sector languishes under mismanagement. His recent targeted attack on the leader of the Burrowes School of Art is further evidence of a ministry in disarray.
Neglect of Black Athletes and Artists
Ramson’s leadership is particularly egregious in its neglect of Black sportspeople and cultural figures, a community that has long been at the heart of Guyana’s artistic and athletic achievement. These individuals have not only been ignored, but actively marginalized. In a country as diverse as Guyana, such selective attention is not only shameful but dangerous. The exclusion of any group from national development in youth, sports, and culture undermines the very fabric of the society Ramson is supposed to be nurturing.
It is no wonder then that talented individuals across all sectors have grown disillusioned. Ramson, rather than empowering the youth, athletes, and cultural icons of Guyana, appears more interested in consolidating power within his tight-knit circle of loyalists. This insecurity has paralyzed the ministry, turning what should be a powerhouse of talent development into a monument to one man’s ego.
A Call for Change
Charles Ramson Jr. is a blight on the face of the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture. His incompetence, insecurities, and neglect of the very people he should be serving have held back the progress of Guyana’s next generation of athletes, artists, and leaders. At a time when the country’s oil economy is poised to propel it to new heights, we cannot afford such poor leadership in a ministry with so much potential to shape the future of Guyana.
President Irfaan Ali must recognize the damage being done and act. Guyana deserves a minister who views this role as an opportunity to serve, to build, and to empower the country’s young and talented citizens. It is time for new leadership that embraces the immense potential of Guyana’s youth, sports, and culture sectors, and fosters the brilliance that already exists in our communities.
