The Island Harbour Basketball Court and its team are now ready for the playing of the sport in Anguilla. The refurbished court and the excited players were brought to the attention of the public when the court was officially reopened on Thursday evening, October 28.
The basketball court was originally built during the term of office of Mr Kenneth Harrigan, then Elected Representative for District 1 and Minister of Infrastructure. The refurbishing of the court, and the formation of the basketball team, wereinitiated by Palmavon Webster, through the Island Harbour Youth Community Centre and other village residents, with the involvement and cooperation of the Sports Department and the Department of Youth and Culture.
Mrs Haycinth Bradley, Programme Officer with the Department of Youth and Culture, said the initiative was part of her Department’s agenda to empower young persons to achieve their dream.
Mr Rudolph Proctor, Commissioner of Police, described the initiative as “an exciting venture on the part of the Island Harbour Community Centre.” Mr Proctor, an original member of The Farrington Youth Club, noted how well young people can excel through sports. “By re-directing you through sports and cultural events, education and spiritual awareness, we can get back the focus of our young people,” he stressed.
“What you have done here looks pretty, but when you engage each other, not just within your community, but other youth outside Island Harbour and surrounding villages, you will be truly on your way to reuniting this island and be one as young people again,” Mr Proctor said. He commended Karen Harrigan, Manager of the Youth Centre, for her hard work; and the Departments of Sports, Youth and Culture for assisting with the setting up of youth centres, throughout the island, in an effort to re-direct the focus of young from guns, drugs and violence.
Mr Rollins Richardson, Acting Director of Sports, was of the view that the establishment of the basketball court, and the formation of the team, was the start of a new beginning for young people in Island Harbour and rest of the island. He disclosed that the Island Harbour Youth Centre was identified as one of the areas where a CARCOM-sponsored after school activities programme should begin.
He pledged that his Department was committed to serving the youth of Anguilla and was available to provide any possible assistance.
Palmavon Webster, who oversees the Island Harbour Youth Centre, commended the young people of the village for their interest in developing themselves through sport. She urged them “to develop your God-given talents for playing…and those important values you already demonstrated.” She defined those values as participation, engagement, teamwork, working hard and focussing on accomplishing the things that are most important to them and the Island Harbour Community.
Ms Webster was one of the persons who were awarded for their work in connection with the basketball court, its refurbishment and the formation of the basketball team. The others were Kenneth Harrigan (represented by his brother, Frederick “Daddy” Harrigan) and Carl T Smith.
The ribbon on the basketball court was cut by Her Excellency Governor Christina Scott, with the assistance of two of Island Harbour’s children.
