Former basketball coach, now politician, Mr. Merrick Richardson, of North Hill, says he is taking a step forward to work harder for his community.
The general election candidate for the Anguilla Progressive Movement (APM), was at the time speaking at Sandy Ground, part of the District 5 constituency, on Saturday, March 14.
“I could not sit by and not try to make a difference in the highest body of the land, so I am here tonight as your advocate, as your champion, and a member of a team determined to bring change and betterment to Anguilla,” he told his listeners. “For 20 years I have been a basketball coach. I said at my launch at North Hill, a few weeks ago, that I like to tell my players that I am the best coach in Anguilla. I view success in knowing that the young men there have faith in me – and trust me not only to lead them on the basketball court, but to lead them in life.”
He continued: “I view success as seeing parents and guardians entrusting me with your children and to have those hard talks when they are needed. Nelson Mandela said: ‘sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers. It lasts in the face of all kinds of discrimination.’
“I believe that community and sport go hand in hand. I remember my days playing with the Free Birds…and I remember all of North Hill, Sandy Ground and South Hill coming out to support us. The APM understands the importance of building good, strong communities. We also understand the importance of sport, at a national level, to motivate and inspire all generations within Anguilla – and especially at the grassroots level to build, consolidate and develop communities.
“Under an APM Government, the neglect of sport will come to an end. A new era of sport development, through partnership and youth engagement, shall define the way forward. When elected to office, our APM Government intends to develop a national sports policy engaging a global perspective.
“We will develop social and economic partnerships across all sectors in society, and with businesses, to ensure increased support. We will revitalise the club structure throughout our communities across Anguilla. We will create an environment of collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, and sporting associations, to benefit from provisions in trade agreements that allow access to foreign markets for training and participation in competitions. We will expand our sport programmes in schools and facilitate access to appropriate infrastructure, nutritional and health programmes. We will establish a sport programme to encourage accomplished sport persons to coach and mentor youth.”
Mr. Richardson added: “The APM understands that if we are to steer the course for a better Anguilla, we will have to build and upgrade existing sporting infrastructure through sponsorships, private/public partnerships and assistance…With upgraded facilities, we will be able to develop sports tourism as an important aspect of national development to create new employment and economic opportunities for all. Sports tourism is a 600 billion-dollar a year worldwide industry. All we need is to tap into a fraction of a percentage point of that – and it will transform this society.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Richardson took the occasion to comment on what he said was a vibrant fishing community in Sandy Ground. “I have had the opportunity to speak to a few of the fishermen to hear their concerns,” he recalled. “One fisherman told me he goes out with God at his side because of a lack of a proper rescue vessel. He bemoans the fact that there is no fish-processing plant – but I am here to tell you that under an APM Government that will all change.”
