Excitement builds in Berbice as Palmyra Stadium construction progresses

Construction of the long-awaited Palmyra Stadium in Region Six is steadily advancing, sparking growing anticipation across Berbice. The multipurpose facility is expected to significantly reshape the region’s sporting and tourism landscape.

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. recently acknowledged some delays in the project but confirmed that construction remains on track and is progressing steadily.

Local athletes and officials have voiced strong support for the facility, highlighting its potential to elevate sports in the region and draw major events to Berbice.

Among them is West Indies and Guyana cricketer Ashmini Munisar, who shared her excitement with Ignite News.

“The only stadium right now is Providence, and with a brand new stadium—the Palmyra Stadium—hopefully it encourages and excites younger youths to come out and play,” Munisar said.

She added: “Being a cricketer, having a stadium five minutes away from where I live will come in handy, especially right now with the rainy season.”

Former West Indies cricketer Devendra Bishoo also welcomed the development, calling it long overdue for the region.

“The stadium is an amazing initiative. We grew up all our life never expecting — for me, as a former cricketer — that we would’ve had a stadium in Palmyra,” he said.

Reflecting on the convenience the new venue will offer, he related that travelling to the Providence Stadium takes hours and with a stadium now in Berbice, fans and players will only need 15 to 20 minutes to get there.

For young athletes like Realeanna Grimmond of the Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club, the stadium promises a practical solution to recurring challenges.

Grimmond told this publication that the stadium is a welcome development, especially given how training is affected by the weather. She explained, “When it rains heavy, it’s making it hard to train because the ground is wet.” She added that the state-of-the-art facility is expected to feature better infrastructure.

Beyond its impact on sports, the stadium is also being seen as a potential driver of economic growth in the region, particularly within the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Randy Mangru, president of the Regional Tourism Committee, highlighted the broader benefits the facility could bring.

“The stadium here is definitely a plus for us in Berbice. It will bring major economic turnover in the tourism sector and the hospitality sector. We are expecting that we’re going to have a major influx of people and tourists from across the diaspora here in Guyana,” he said.

With construction progressing and regional anticipation building, the Palmyra Stadium is poised to become a cornerstone of Region Six’s infrastructure. Once completed, it is expected to provide enhanced training facilities, strengthen sports development, and unlock new opportunities for tourism and community engagement.

Realeanna Grimmond