Over 20 teams from various blocks in Barbados will compete in the Division of Youth???s HIV and AIDS Block Draughts Tournament 2014-2015 starting Monday, November 24.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Ruth Blackman, launched the competition last Friday, at the Ministry???s headquarters at Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, St. Michael.
Stating that the annual tournament demonstrated the Ministry???s commitment to sports at the community and national levels, Ms. Blackman said the competition has captured the imagination of young people and is a mechanism of peace and social cohesion.
She explained it was organised as a team sport which ???strengthens both intra and inter community relations, as well as fosters good community spirit???.
Ms. Blackman revealed that the prize money for the competition, which was now in its third year, was ???some BDS$5,050, the highest ever in the history of the tournament???. There will also be a Most Valued Player award, with the winning team receiving BDS$1,600. A total of eight prizes will be awarded, with each winner receiving a trophy.
She further noted that the tournament was staged in collaboration with the National Council on Substance Abuse, and the Ministry???s in-house Youth Development HIV and AIDS Committee. Participants would therefore benefit from critical and relevant drug and HIV and AIDS awareness.
In addition, the Permanent Secretary welcomed the tournament???s new partner, the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF). She indicated the RBPF was instrumental in registering three new teams to compete: 2nd Avenue New Orleans, 7th Avenue New Orleans and Emmerton Lane.
???Teams, networks and partnerships are the stepping stones that we must continue to use to build harmonious relations and deliver services effectively,??? she said, adding that the matches will be held at venues across the island.
Ms. Blackman encouraged the players to engage in friendly competition and to welcome the visiting teams graciously into their communities.??Twenty-four teams are participating in the Division of Youth???s HIV and AIDS Block Draughts Tournament 2014-2015, with the majority hailing from St. Michael.
They are Grazettes, 7th Avenue New Orleans, Emmerton Lane, Jessamine Avenue, St. Stephen???s Hill, 2nd Avenue New Orleans, Waterford Housing Area and Bush Hall.
The other teams are Haynesville, Weston and Lower Carlton from St. James; Maynards, Miles & Quarter and Road View from St. Peter; Gall Hill, Silver Sands and Edey Village from Christ Church; Parish Hill, Horse Hill and Lammings from St. Joseph; Drax Hall and Ellerton from St. George; Belleplaine, St. Andrew; and Checker Hall, St. Lucy.
The tournament will begin with four zonal games on Monday, November 24. All matches start at 7:00 p.m. In Zone A, Emmerton Lane will play Bush Hall at Quimby Shop, Bush Hall, while in Zone B, Edey Village versus Parish Hill will be held at Blackman Gollop Primary School, Staple Grove, Christ Church.
The Zone C match – Grazettes versus Lower Carlton, will be played at the Grazettes Community Centre, St. Michael, while in Zone D, Lammings will face Belleplaine at the Lammings Pavilion, St. Joseph.
Matches will continue on November 26, December 1, 3, 8, 10 and January 5, 7, 12, 14, 21, 26 and February 2. The dates for the semi-finals and finals will be revealed at a later stage.
For more information on the Division of Youth???s HIV and AIDS Block Draughts Tournament 2014-2015, persons should contact Coordinator, Hilary Austin, at 621-2700 or 824-1280.
shamkoe.pile@barbados.gov.bb