Sports Against Crime to be launched next year

As part of efforts to reduce the number of young persons getting involved in criminal activities and so lessen the incidences of crime and the impacts, the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines plans to launch a Sports Against Crime initiative in the coming year.
Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced the initiative as he addressed the Independence Day Parade at Victoria Park last Saturday.
Sports Against Crime will be the second such initiative of its kind in 11 years targeting the youth with the aim of attracting greater participation in sporting activities, making the youth more focused on the positive and leaving them less opportunity to be involved in criminal activities.
“As a companion to the Pan Against Crime initiative, the government will in 2019 implement the comprehensive Sport Against Crime initiative in conjunction with those sporting organizations which are interested in so doing. Two such national sporting organizations have raised the matter thus far with me,” Prime Minister Gonsalves stated.
Dr. Gonsalves’ announcement on the launch of the initiative came months after public calls by sporting personnel, sporting enthusiasts and administrators of sporting organizations.
Almost two months ago, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association spearheaded a Walk Against Crime to highlight the spate of violent crimes and to bring awareness to youth involvement. The Walk, which began at the Vogue Restaurant at Diamond on the Windward Side of the island and ended at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex, attracted overwhelming support from sports administrator and other local Sports Associations.
The first initiative, Pan Against Crime, was started in February 2008 and established 13 new steel bands in communities and schools throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan, PetroCaribe SVG, and the National Firearms Board have assisted in the growth and development of the Pan Against Crime initiative.