Revamped community initiatives coming to benefit youth

The National Sports Council will soon be revamping a number of its community programmes to benefit Barbadian youth who have a passion for sports.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Dwight Sutherland, disclosed the above as he spoke recently during the groundbreaking ceremony for The Glebe Pavilion, which  will also feature a multipurpose hardcourt at The Glebe, in St. George.

“As Minister responsible for Sports, I cannot stress the importance of having clean, modern and safe facilities that foster community spirit and encourage our young people to participate in sports and other wholesome activities. Accordingly, I am pleased to report that this much needed pavilion will be added to the list of locations to be used by the National Sports Council for its revamped community programmes and sporting competitions,” Sutherland revealed.

He added, “Several benefits will be derived from the community programmes, including the ability of young people and other residents to learn new sports, improve both their physical and mental health and well-being, and build social cohesion within their communities.

“In the coming weeks, you will hear much more about the community programmes that are being developed by the Council.  Furthermore, members of the public will have the opportunity to have a stake in the identification of sporting disciplines which will be taught within their communities, through a National Sports Survey. I implore residents of all communities to avail themselves of this opportunity to contribute to the shaping of these programmes,” the Minister further commented.

Expressing his excitement in seeing the completion of the Glebe Pavilion, Sutherland said, “Even though my roots are planted in another area of St. George, I am immensely proud and happy that this parish will soon have additional facilities to support the development of sports, but more importantly, the development of the people of this parish and others who will be involved in sporting engagements on this site.

“In a few months, there will be a new facility here and I look forward to joining the George Park Cricket Club and other sportspersons when it is opened. To members of the George Park Cricket Club and other sporting entities, please be assured of the continued support of the National Sports Council and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, as together we seek to develop sports as an industry and as a catalyst for strong, healthy communities,” Sutherland said. (RSM)