The Saint Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) Inc. on Friday presented EC$10,000.00 each to the Saint Lucia National Netball Association (SLNNA) and the Saint Lucia Tennis Association (SLTA).
The presentation ceremony was held in the Jonathan H. Everett Conference Room at Saint Lucia Olympic Committee House, in La Clery, Castries.
The disbursements will assist in the two sporting associations’ participation in two upcoming tournaments. The SLNNA will be fielding a squad for this year’s ECCB/OECS Netball Championships to be held from February 11 to 19 in Dominica, while an SLTA team will compete in the Regional Under-16 Billie Jean Cup from February 25 to March 5 in Santo Domingo.
Receiving the cheques from SLOC Inc.’s Secretary General, Teddy Matthews, at Friday’s ceremony were SLNNA First Vice-President, Sanya Antoine, and SLTA Vice-President, Digby Ambris.
“This tournament will assist us in our ranking because we’re looking forward to going to the Qualifiers this year in Jamaica,” Antoine said. “So we’re very grateful to the SLOC Inc. for the assistance.”
The SLTA Vice-President was also appreciative of the presentation, noting that the Association needs all the assistance it can get to develop greater interest in tennis.
“We’ve got some very good young players who are interested in the game,” Ambris said. “We can only assist them in furthering their objectives.”
In his remarks at Friday’s presentation, SLOC Inc.’s President, Alfred Emmanuel, said the SLOC Inc. remains committed and prepared to assist its members. However, he said such assistance is contingent on the SLOC Inc. receiving the required information that will allow the SLOC Inc. to make informed decisions.
Since January this year, Emmanuel stated, the SLOC Inc. has approved in excess of EC$155,000.00 for four member associations. He said that while such allocations were approved, the SLOC Inc. will only release those funds if the associations can show where they will source the shortfall.
“That is going to be the trademark of the SLOC Inc. going forward,” Emmanuel stated. “Persons will have to declare to the SLOC Inc. in full whom they have approached for assistance, what level of assistance has been committed to them by other stakeholders, and, at the end of the day, the organization, with its limited financial resources, will be in a position to offer help.”
Emmanuel urged all associations to focus heavily on performance and results. He also challenged them to ensure that when they represent Saint Lucia, that they do so diligently.
Both the SLOC Inc. President and Secretary General wished the two teams the best outcomes at their respective tournaments.