Winlott Inc chair calls for support of youths’ positive activities

The positive exploits of youths in all endeavours must be encouraged.

This was proposed by chair of Winlott Inc Murray Bullock, as he spoke last Saturday morning at the opening ceremony of the 2017 CBN/Winlott Inc Windward Islands Schools’ Games (WISG).

Addressing the gathering at the Games Village – the West St George Secondary School in Belair, Bullock asked that persons be more appreciative of the efforts of young people.

“I am appealing to the officials and the general public to recognize how important it (the Windward Islands Schools’ Games) is to young people… We are not very hesitant and we don’t take time to criticize our young people when they do bad, or when they go wrong … we want to chastise them and pull them down. With the same energy and enthusiasm, we should be prepared to encourage [and] support,” Bullock emphasized.

His comments drew loud applause from the over 250 student-athletes who attended the formal opening ceremony.

Bullock said that his company, along with Canadian Bank Note (CBN), contribute a combined EC$400 000 towards the staging of the annual WISG.

He, however, estimated that with the many add-ons by the host country, inclusive of infrastructure enhancement, preparation of venues, preparation of the various teams, security and more, it takes a minimum of EC $1 million to host the WISG.

Also underscoring the enormity of the cost of hosting the WISG, chair of the local organizing

committee, deputy chief education officer in the Ministry of National Reconciliation and Ecclesiastical Affairs Elizabeth Walker, called for reciprocity on the part of the student-athletes.

“The CBN/Winlott Inc is expensive to produce and host… we expect to see returns for our investment from these games … We expect future Carifta, Commonwealth and Olympic Games’ medals … So, we expect all of you to shine brightly in your various sporting events. You are here to represent your country and you must do so with pride and dignity. I urge you to do all within your powers to ensure that you are good ambassadors for your country,” Walker said.

“Kirani James [Grenada] did it and we expect others to walk in his footsteps and go to the podium and collect their Olympic and other medals … We have seen the potential of the games… Let us work to make it bigger and better this year,” she added.

The WISG is a multi-discipline event, involving student-athletes from the four Windward Islands – Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Competition is in netball, track and field, male and female volleyball, male and female basketball and football.

The 2017 edition, which began in earnest last Saturday, ends on Saturday.

The WISG dates back to as early as 1922.