President Irfaan Ali opened the 2025 Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Senior Championships in Georgetown with a US$25,000 pledge to support Jamaica’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa. Addressing athletes and officials at the reception dinner at the Royal International Hotel, he reminded attendees that Guyana assumed hosting duties after the storm made it impossible for Jamaica to proceed, crediting the smooth transition to collaboration among the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission and the GSRA.
Reflecting on his recent visit to Jamaica, President Ali said “those who look at Kingston will not begin to imagine the scale and level of destruction,” noting that Guyana has already committed to repairing 200 roofs, restoring a school and a police station, and continues to dispatch supplies. Emphasising regional unity, he added, “We are all part of one family in this region.”
The President praised the Guyana Squash Association as “extraordinary in many ways,” highlighting its strong leadership and the government’s widening investment in the sport. “We’re investing in courts all across the country,” he said, pointing to equipment distribution in schools and villages and growing participation in the hinterland. He announced that a new air-conditioned national squash complex with athlete accommodation will be completed shortly after the tournament.
President Ali said Guyana’s expanding sports infrastructure positions the nation as the premier destination for sport in the Americas and reaffirmed that “sports is a major component of the orange economy.” As he formally declared the championships open, he encouraged competitors: “Let this championship be the one that creates history for you. Let it elevate you. And above all, let it strengthen the Caribbean family gathered here tonight.”
The tournament runs from November 23–30 at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.
