Sports Minister on the ball

Newly-appointed Minister of Sports and Culture Frederick Stephenson has hit the ground running.{{more}}

Stephenson, at the Closing Ceremony of the SVG General Services Grassroot Junior Christmas Tennis Tournament, on Tuesday, December 28, at the Haddon Hotel Courts on Murray’s Road, gave his Government’s commitment to assist the sport of tennis in any way that it can.

Stephenson, in his first outing at a sporting function since taking the Oath of Office on Sunday, December 19, promised to look into the possible refurbishing of the New Montrose tennis courts, which are in dire need of attention.

That facility, which has produced former national players such as Nigel Liverpool, Onike Spann, Trevor Sam, and Deron Grant, is the home of the Onike Tennis Academy (OTA), but has been restricted because of the conditions of the courts.

Compounding the challenges, is an absence of washroom facilities. At present, the OTA shares the washrooms that are on the compound of the adjoining Kingstown Netball Center, also known as Nutricia.

Meanwhile, Stephenson said he was aware that the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association (SVGTA) would soon hold elections for a new executive.

He urged those seeking office to put aside their personal misgivings for the greater good of the sport.

Stephenson, a virtual newcomer to the political sphere, won the South Windward Constituency for the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP).

Stephenson, in his portfolio, replaces former Minister of Sports Mike Browne.

Browne, in the latter part of his tenure, had Cecil McKie as the Minister of State, with McKie mainly assigned to Youth and Sports. (RT)