CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (September 23, 2009) -- Nevis’ Deputy Premier and Minister of Sports, Hensley Daniel, has decried the current trend where corporate entities are cutting back on sports sponsorship saying that the result has been an increase in antisocial behaviour among the youth.
Speaking on Tuesday, at a function where the Development Bank of Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Nevis Cooperative Credit Union kitted two Nevisians who have selected to the West Indies U19 training squad, Minister Daniel said that investment in the youth reduces antisocial behaviour among them.
“This year in particular all the corporate entities are cutting back on sponsorship,” lamented Daniel at the function which was held at the old Administration Building in Charlestown. “While we cut back on the sponsorship, there is an increase on antisocial behaviour. I want to particularly commend these two entities for recognising that we have to continue to work all the time and continue to invest all the time with young people.”
The Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis sponsored fast bowling all-rounder Nelson Bolan to a tune of EC$1500. The full kit was presented to him by the acting manager of the Nevis branch, Hyacinth Pemberton, who implored the cricketer to make the maximum use of the gear as Nevis was looking forward to seeing another Nevisian on the senior West Indies team.
“In 2007 we sponsored the Under 17 cricket development programme under our great Nevisian cricketer, and former West Indies test player, Keith Arthurton, the success of which saw three players namely Akeem Saunders, Tashmaeil Mills and Akheam Fox selected to play in the Leeward Islands Under 19 team this year,” observed Pemberton.
“The bank continues to show its commitment to the development of young people and the Federation as a whole,” added Pemberton. “In light of this, we are delighted to be the proud sponsor of Mr Nelson Boland who has been selected to the West Indies Under-19 training squad currently preparing for Under 19 World Cup tour to be held in New Zealand in 2010.”
Opening batsman Kejel Tyson was sponsored by the Nevis Cooperative Credit Union, whose general manager Sydney Newton addressed the function saying that the Credit Union has been a major sponsor of cricket on Nevis, the main feature being the Bonzo Ten/10 cricket tournament for the last four years.
The two players are members of the Empire Sports Club and according to the club’s President, Eric Evelyn, “Tyson and Boland have made some tremendous strides in a very short space of time, and I would encourage them to continue on that path. They are going to stay focused and we are hopeful and we are confident that very soon they will be wearing the maroon colours and they will be part of the senior West Indies team.”
Evelyn, who chaired the proceeding further said: “I would like to commend very highly the two corporate citizens, the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Nevis Co-operative Credit Union Limited for sponsoring these young cricketers.”
Present at the function included Ronald Powell, President of the Nevis Cricket Association, Joy Hendrickson, Nelson Boland’s mother, Jean Tyson, Kejel Tyson’s mother, and a former regional cricket administrator, now minister of Communication and Public Utilities in the Nevis Island Administration, Carlisle Powell, who is also the father of Kieran Powell, the latest Nevisian on the West Indies team.
Others were, Ronald Powell, President of the Nevis Cricket Association, two former West Indies test players, Carl Tuckett, who is coaching the two cricketers, and Stuart Williams, and two board members of the Nevis Cooperative Credit Union, Jervan Swanston and Curtis Morton.
