Government has announced that it will provide funding for national federations and technical assistance for structured clubs that will benefit sports in Barbados.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith, during a meeting at the Wildey Gymnasium last Saturday to discuss the development of sports in Barbados, stated that BDS $20,000 would be made available to every single federation on the island.
“In addition to the BDS $20,000 that will be given to you, outside of that, if there’s a need for technical assistance, then I’m prepared to take that also in focus, in relation to developing your national federation,” he said.
The Sports Minister also disclosed that he had sought permission from Cabinet to deepen relations with Jamaica in relation to the development of sports.
“I took a paper to Cabinet that was seeking permission of Cabinet to deepen relations with Jamaica, as it relates to sports. Obviously, I spoke to Minister Grange as well, and she’s on board in relation to the collaboration between our two countries,” he said.
Mr. Griffith also emphasised the need for the development of coaches, adding that “if we can get our coaches up to scratch, then I believe that we can do some good at the regional and the international level”.
He noted that Government would be focusing on a pilot programme for dedicated coaches and all the necessary resources for a core team of some of the disciplines.
In addition, Minister Griffith mentioned plans for various sporting facilities, including a home for gymnastics, a facility for squash and badminton, and a roofed facility with wooden floors for basketball, netball, and volleyball at the Netball Stadium.
He stated: “Your development programme is entirely up to you, in terms of how you see that programme working for you, in terms of your discipline. If you want to come to us in relation to assistance that is in place, I’m not sure, but I believe that all of you should be aware that the gym here was made available to every single national federation for coaching.”
Also in attendance at the meeting were Permanent Secretary, Charlie Brown; Senior Development Officer, Stephen Rowe; Acting Director of the National Sports Council, Emmerson Bascombe; Senior Accountant, Sabrina Worrell-Wood and Senior Coach, Ryan Toppin.