Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley. (FP)
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth has assured Barbadians that it is working diligently to source funding for the redevelopment of the National Stadium.
This declaration came from Sports’ Minister Stephen Lashley who was speaking this morning at the National Primary Schools’ Athletic Championships (NAPSAC), held at the Usain Bolt Complex, Black Rock, St. Michael.
While giving the feature address, Mr. Lashley noted that in order for the National Stadium to be redeveloped for local athletes, especially in such difficult financial times, the Ministry needed to have fully secured the funding to do so.
While sharing the disappointment that the stadium was not currently up to the highest standard, the Minister disclosed that his Ministry has already engaged with the Ministry of Finance to seek a resolution to the challenge of funding.
“They are also looking to find the funding and we will do whatever is necessary within our means to accelerate the move towards the development of the National Stadium,” he affirmed.
The Sports Minister further stated that as the development of sports in Barbados was critical to the country’s national development, the NAPSAC games were important for young athletes.
In this regard, he noted that the National Sports Council and the Ministry of Sports were “very happy every year to support this particular meet, [as] it represents a very keen developmental aspect of the athletes attending our primary schools.”