Grass Street Residents Excited About First Sporting Facility
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Contact: Julita Peter
Friday, March 14, 2008 – Residents of Grass Street in the Castries Central Constituency are elated over the construction of a sporting facility in their community. The basketball court was recently opened by Castries Central Parliamentary Representative Hon. Richard Frederick, Prime Minister Hon. Stephenson King and Taiwanese Ambassador His Excellency Tom Chou.
The court is the brainchild of Castries Central MP Honourable Richard Frederick, who thought it was necessary to provide an alternative medium for the young men to spend quality time together. The sporting facility he said, is part of continuing efforts of a ‘Peace and Love' initiative, which he introduced to quell gang rivalry in his constituency. One of the activities under this initiative was a football match between rival gangs.
“The football went very well, and when I saw the skill that the guys in Castries Central showcased, I believe that they were worthy of some more sporting facilities within the Castries Central basin,” the Castries MP explained.
At the formal opening Frederick exhorted his constituents to 'shoot balls rather than bullets'.
“I would like you to shoot the balls on the ground through football, or in the air through basketball. Let the targets remain within the periphery of this compound, and let our innocent citizens warm their way in total peace and tranquillity,” he said.
Members of the Grass Street community participated thoroughly in the project from its conception to construction. Funding for the facility was provided by the government of Taiwan through its embassy in St. Lucia, at the cost of just under half a million EC Dollars.
Mr. Frederick expressed gratitude to the Taiwanese government, which he said is repeatedly touching the lives of the average Saint Lucian. Ambassador Tom Chou said the sporting facility is part of a wider community development project. He said he was particularly impressed with the workmanship of the facility.
“This motivates the local embassy to do more for community development. We are going to do these kinds of projects every year,” Ambassador Chou added.
Prime Minister Hon. Stephenson King expressed similar sentiments of gratitude to the local Taiwanese embassy.
“We must recognize one group of individuals, without whose assistance, we would not be standing here to realize the opening of this facility. I speak of none other but our friends from Taiwan who have come to our assistance here in St. Lucia,” said Prime Minister King, addressing the young men and women in attendance. “The future is yours. We the parliamentarians can only provide the foundation for you to succeed. You need to build on it. The facility is here for you to be able to have friendly rivalry, to earn the discipline that you look for.”
The Prime Minister also recognized the efforts of the Castries Central MP, whose dedication, he said, is demonstrated by such initiatives. |
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