Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 07, 2018 (SKNIS): Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Sports, the Honourable Shawn Richards, updated the Sandy Point and neighbouring communities on past, present and future developments that will enhance the sporting facilities in the area.
Speaking at the “People’s Forum” Town Hall Meeting at the Sandy Point Community Centre on Tuesday, March 06, Minister Richards, who is also the Member of Parliament for the area, said that the people of Sandy Point have benefited from the developments done in the area of sports.
He made mention of the new recreation ground in the area and said he was thrilled to see that young people are able to utilize the facility, especially after hours.
“The football league in Sandy Point is taking place and young people are playing football up until 10 o’clock in the night because we have been able to place lights for the first time ever on the playing field in Sandy Point,” said Minister Richards.
The minister of sports spoke about a brand new tennis court that has been in the making for some time. He also updated other members of the sporting fraternity on the ongoing developments, and notified the community that soon it will be able to make great use of the facilities.
“…we have had to extend the tennis area so that we can have two tennis courts here in Sandy Point,” he said, noting that workmen are awaiting the laying of asphalt by the Public Works Department. “As soon as that is done, the tennis courts will be in place. As a matter of fact, I was told … that the lights for the tennis courts arrived on island. To the basketballers and netballers, I can also say to you that the surfacing for the netball court and the basketball court also arrived on island… and once Public Works comes through and deals with the asphalting, the surface will be placed on the courts.”
He noted that the surface is the same as the ones placed on the basketball courts operated by the St. Kitts Amateur Basketball Association (SKABA). The sports minister said that a lot of planning was done to choose a surface that can withstand all the different events that take place at the facility.
Not forgetting the Fig Tree Community, the deputy prime minister said that they too will be getting brand new backboards, basketball rims and poles. Aside from Fig Tree, other communities to benefit or that have already benefited from this initiative include St. Paul’s, Newton Ground, Half Way Tree, Boyd’s and Bird Rock.
“We are not leaving anyone behind. The intention really is to change out all of them throughout the entire island so that the young people in St. Kitts and Nevis have proper playing facilities especially, in terms of basketball,” said Minister Richards, who explained that the sporting facilities are a work in progress.
He added that work will be also be done at the pavilion and said that the intention is to construct an additional building which will function as a media room as well. The building will be constructed to house persons such as commentators during sporting events.
