Plans are falling into place for the staging of the finals of the Massy/United Insurance Under-19 schools cricket tournament featuring Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and the Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School.
The Department of Youth Development and Sports held a news conference on Wednesday to bring the local media up-to-date on some of the arrangements ahead of the final set for April 28 at the Mindoo Philip Park.
Representative from Massy United Insurance, Faye Miller, said the sponsors were putting in a handsome sum this year to ensure the tournament continue to meet the high standards set for the past 31 years.
“We have committed EC$33, 125 towards this year’s competition and that’s in addition to the prize of EC $ 1,750 to the winning school and EC $750 to the losing finalist. We will also be outfitting the teams in the finals with branded gear,” Miller stated.
Hollis Bristol, a former national cricketer and commentator, and one of the Massy United Insurance officials who has had a long association with the competition, spoke about the value of the competition to the continued nurturing of cricketing talent on the island.
“There is a long list of players who have gone through this competition and made it all the way to have represented the West Indies Cricket team. We believe strongly that our youth must be given an opportunity to excel and have an avenue to expose their talent. They can occupy their time with something positive. If we don’t find time for our youth we are in trouble,” Bristol stressed.