Member of Parliament, St. George North, Toni Moore breaks ground for a new pavilion and multipurpose facility at The Glebe, St. George today while Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Dwight Sutherland (right), looks on. ( C. Pitt/BGIS)

Enhancing lives through sporting and community empowerment activities is one of the main purposes for the creation of a new pavilion and multipurpose facility at The Glebe, St. George.

This is according to Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Dwight Sutherland, as he delivered remarks at the ground breaking ceremony for the new Glebe Pavilion and Multipurpose Facility, this morning.

Minister Sutherland stated: “The work, which will be conducted here, represents a continuation of efforts to generally enhance the facilities for sporting activities, 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 multipurpose facility will be added to the list of locations to be used by the National Sports Council for its revamped community programmes and sporting competitions. Several benefits will be derived from the community programmes, including the ability of the young people and other residents to learn new sports; improve both their physical and mental and well-being, and build social cohesion within their community.”

In addition, the Minister noted that the facility would also become the Club House for the George Park Cricket Club, as well as a place to support the playing of football, road tennis, rugby, and the activities of the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme.

Minister Sutherland revealed that the facility being constructed by M&M Engineering Services is expected to be completed in 24 weeks, at a cost of approximately BDS$600,000. 

When finished, he said “the pavilion will manifest several modern features, including photovoltaic panels, which is in keeping with the National Sports Council’s goal to create energy efficient facilities”.

“This will assist the Council in reducing the high cost of energy, while becoming an independent power producer.  In addition, we will ensure that we install water tanks at this facility.  That’s why we said, modern and multipurpose, because we don’t want to see you using potable water to wet the grounds or the playing field.  We will ensure that we install a tank to capture rainwater at this facility,” Mr. Sutherland stated.

The Sports Minister disclosed that the National Sports Council (NSC), in its plans to revamp community sports programmes and sporting competitions, is currently working on a community sports programme framework. 

He noted that 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. 

Their participation will be through a national online sports survey and the Minister is imploring residents of all communities “to avail themselves of the opportunity to contribute to the shaping of these programmes”, when the survey is disseminated to the public.

Minister Sutherland gave the assurance that all sporting entities would continue to receive the support of the NSC and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, as together they develop sports as an industry and a catalyst for strong healthy communities, as well as one of the economic pillars of Barbados. 

sheena.forde-craigg@barbados.gov.bb

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