The New Democratic Party (NDP) is working to draw attention to the poor condition of playing fields and hard courts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In videos and photos posted on social media, footage was taken of playing areas which show broken walls and playing surfaces. The videos and photos from different constituencies show that the problem exists in the entire country. The ripped up hard court in Sion Hill and collapsed wall at an abandoned playing field in Fair Hall are two of many such examples.
President of the NDP, the Honourable Dr Godwin Friday said, “The government must repair urgently these hard courts and playing fields. We all know of a local playing area that has been allowed to fall apart. It is not good enough. The young people in our country deserve better. They need places for playing sports with their friends and developing their talents.”
Member of parliament for East Kingstown, Fitz Bramble said, “The NDP knows the value of sports to young people and our country as a whole. That is why we have devised the National Athlete Programme, as the government has woefully neglected sportspeople. We are calling on the government to improve the conditions of playing fields and hard courts in villages and around the country to give people a place to develop their skills. They make empty promises and pledges on sports and the poor state of playing fields and hard courts demonstrate that.”