Minister of Sports and Creative Industries Dwayne George has welcomed the decision of the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda to invest EC$ 17 million in upgrading community sporting complexes across the country.

Last week’s Cabinet Notes outlined that the decision is “in recognition of the importance of accessible sporting facilities to national sports development and community advancement”.

According to Minister Dwayne George, each constituency will be allocated EC$ one million to make necessary improvements to existing complexes and added that the announcement comes at a time when his Ministry is conducting a comprehensive review of the Government’s sporting programmes, with an aim of improving on what currently exists.

“Recently, I met with caretakers to hear directly from them the challenges they are experiencing and what materials they require to adequately execute their duties and provide proper maintenance of the sporting facilities within our various communities,” Minister George said.

“I have given them an undertaking that I will do all in my power to ensure they receive the support that is necessary for them to perform at their optimum. The disbursement of the funds contained in the decision of the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda will certainly go a long way in assisting with our plans,” he noted.

The Minister of Sports and Creative Industries has also impressed upon sports coordinators within his Ministry to place greater emphasis on community sports, mandating them to produce a comprehensive plan for the way forward.

“It is my firm belief that sports play an integral role in the development of our young people, some of who are being caught up in deviant and anti-social behavior, finding themselves on the wrong side of the law. While sports are thriving in schools, attention must now be placed on making the various disciplines available to young people in the areas that they reside. We will take it to them. I have tasked the Director of Sports and coordinators to make it happen,” Minister George stated.

He pointed out that the Government of Antigua and Barbuda will continue to support sports at every level and maintained that the EC$ 17 million will go a long way in sustaining that commitment.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Sports Minister Targets Improved Facilities and Community Sports Development.