Minister of Sports reaches out to National Associations

Sports Minister Hon. Glen Phillip

St. Kitts, March 12, 2010 (SKNIS): Members of national sporting associations had a very frank and honest discussion with the Minister of Sports Honourable Glen Phillip at a meeting on Tuesday.

An official told SKNIS that topics discussed at the meeting included the management and operations of sporting facilities, the continuance of Government concession programmes and the strengthening of linkages between sporting associations, as well as with Government.

Specific interventions were made by the leadership of the local amateur athletic association who suggested closer cooperation for programmes operated by the Ministry of Sports, while President of the National Olympic Committee Alphonso Bridgewater urged for greater reporting practices particularly in the area of financial accounts and transactions.

A call was made by the head of the netball association to ensure that the contributions of women in sport are remembered. This was seen as most appropriate considering that March 8 was celebrated as International Women’s Day.

Minister Phillip assured the participants that the partnership between their groups and Government will be continued and enhanced where possible. He outlined a number of priorities to be undertaken by his Ministry and stressed that the construction of a multipurpose indoor stadium is top on the agenda.

The Minister of Sports again paid tribute to the success of the Special Olympics team which won 41 medals at the recently held II (2nd) Latin American Games. All parties at the meeting also expressed their unequivocal support for the transformational positives of sport and pledge to raise the level on and off the field.

Minister Phillip described the meeting as productive and vowed to have such regular meetings with stakeholders.