CATEGORY:SPORTS
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By Trevor Thwaites
Inside Grenada Correspondent
Wednesday December 27,2007

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada - Government has allotted EC$10.4 million for Sports Development in 2007. This was announced in the 2007 Budget that was presented by Finance Minister, Anthony Boatswain, earlier on this month.

A large sum of the funds will be used to upgrade rural sporting facilities, which officials say will be given priority attention. EC$ 2.5 million have been earmarked for the upgrading of the Cuthbert Peters Park in Gouyave, which is long overdue. Officials say that a concerted effort is being made to complete the project.

Monies have also been set aside for the completion of Progress Park in St Andrew and the Lasagesse Playing Field in St David, now being prepared as practice venues for the ICC Cricket World 2007. Grenada is getting ready to host 6 of the 51 matches in the competition from April 10-20, 2007. Government said that efforts will also be made to outfit playing arenas with adequate lighting facilities, in the coming year.

Both Prime Minister Mitchell and Sports Minister, the Hon Roland Bhola, have continuously said so during the year and this was confirmed during the presentation of the 2007 Budget. It was said that every effort will be made to install night-lighting facilities in major playing fields, with at least one facility in every parish in the coming year

Equipping playing facilities with lights at nights have been something that has been touted for a number of years. But government officials say that it is now time for action and the lights will be installed in the New Year.

It is the expectation that the lighting will afford the nation’s sportsmen and women an added avenue to train and develop their skills as true professionals. The country’s young and talented cricketers have for years been clamouring for the opportunity to play cricket at nights.