Hon Cedric R Liburd Speech for Town Hall meeting – St Peter’s

August 14th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
St Peter’s Community Center

Hon. Cedric Liburd

2. Ladies and Gentlemen,  I wish to thank you for responding to the invitation to be present at this town hall meeting, which seeks to inform the members of  St Peter’s of the happenings and development in our community, and to listen to your ideas and suggestions accordingly.

3. Our key area of focus this evening is the soon-to-be-completed St Peter’s Sporting Complex and we would wish to update you on the progress thus far.

4. Let me first give a brief historical overview of this project and mention that the vision for the St Peters Sporting Complex was first experienced in 1986 while I was president of the     St Peters Football Association.   Since I was elected to serve as the Parliamentary Representative in 1995, I pledged my commitment to further advance the project which started as a self-help community effort.

5. We sought donations from the private sector and we were able to redesign the entire complex. The playing area was leveled and the basketball and the netball courts were relocated to the northern area of the field so that the football section could be expanded. The construction of the pavilion started even though we did not have enough funds to complete it.   I have committed myself to see to its development and I am happy to realize that we are now in its final phase.

6. Over the years the vision has been adjusted to include new and current demands and with the assistance of the Embassy of Republic of China, Taiwan, we have been able to secure funding to complete it.   In October 2007, work started on the pavilion at the St Peters Sporting complex with funds provided by the government of Taiwan.  The funds assisted with the completion of the players dressing room for the footballers and cricketers,  the downstairs of the pavilion and also provided new seating at the second floor, change rooms for netballers and basketballers, a bar and washroom for the public.

7. On March 14th 2008 we received another cheque towards the second phase of   the facility.  We decided to expand the project to include the cricket field, as we would like to see hardball cricket as one of the sport ventures of the St Peters community.  The field has been lengthened southward, we removed the bleachers and widened it on the western side. 

8. We have also decided to relocate the children’s park from next to the community centre and include it as part of the facility, eastward of the pavilion. ~~Adz:Right~~

9. As part of the vision to construct an all inclusive top-of-the-art sporting complex, we have decided to relocate the bus stand which was build by the St Peters AYPA. It will allow us to lengthen the playfield which will obviously make it more spacious.

10. Basketball and netball sections will be separated from the football and cricket field and each section will have its own change rooms and bars.  Hence we can have simultaneous activities at the complex.  The entire complex will have perimeter fencing so that it can be income-generating for whichever sport group chooses to host any event. The field lighting will also be installed along with the construction of bleachers for the basketball and netball courts and for cricket and football.

11. I therefore issue a challenge to all the various sporting fraternities represented to organize leagues and also to manage he St Peters sporting complex. Do not wait on outside organisers or the sports department.  Take the initiative and let us use the facility for complete community development.   In the 1980’s St Peter’s was known as one of the best football leagues and we did not have all this modern opportunities.  Today St Peters is the fastest growing community in the Federation. The growth pole has shown that St.Peters has increased in population and the housing sector by 200%.  The demand for land and housing in St Peters has skyrocketed and so we have to find ways to serve the social needs of our people and to get everyone involved. 

12. The youth are my greatest concern, especially at this time, and I am saying let the competition and rivalry be among the basketball and netball teams and on the cricket and football field - not among gangs. Channel your energies positively.  Today we see the surge in financial success through sports.  Everyone is tuning into the Olympics.  We see what can be achieved and I am strongly convinced that our young people in the St Peters area have the ability and the potential to excel in whatever sport they chose.
 
13. The government recently approved the leasing of 5 acres of land  just east of the St Peters Sporting complex to the St Kitts Nevis Football Association(SKNFA) Goal Cup Project of FIFA.  This new development is comprised of a training facility for footballers, and I cannot over emphasise the benefits of this project.  This will further enhance the St Peters community with commercial possibilities which can mean more jobs and more opportunities.  I want to thank our Prime Minister and Cabinet colleagues for agreeing with me that this FIFA project should be located at St.Peter’s.

14. In addition, during the laying out of the Carifesta Village Housing Project  the National Housing Corporation (NHC) provided the space for another park which has been named the St Peter’s Park, for residents in the Douglas, Carifesta and other surrounding communities. This park is to be used for family-oriented activities and presently we are again seeking to develop the park through community efforts. 

15. We want to create an aesthetically-relaxing atmosphere, where residents can go for a jog, a walk, or just to sit idly by and converse.  We have a section for children’s play, for an outdoor theatre and a fountain.  It is presently being grassed and would be available for use by the community in September until further developments are undertaken.  Ms Cavelle Brookes will give more details on the technical aspects but I would invite persons to form a group to manage and develop this park.

16. Your Government is concerned with the holistic development of our residents and therefore I encourage all persons of the St Peters community to benefit from these projects in whatever way the opportunity provides.

17. Let me re-emphasise that my concern for the youth is one of the driving forces behind all this venture. Recent surge in crime throughout the Caribbean is forcing governments and concerned citizens to invest in avenues where the youth can channel their energies in a positive manner and this is one of such ventures by your Parliamentary Representative.

18. The cricketers enthusiasts, the footballers, the netballers, the basketballers and the athletes are all eagerly anticipating the completion of the St Peter’s Sporting Complex and they and do not hesitate to let me know  that they want this project completed soon.  I am pleased to inform you therefore that based on the most recent progress report that I received we will look toward a possible completion of the St Peter’s Sporting Complex by October 31, 2008.
 

19. This is quite an opportune time to express our appreciation to the Ambassador Wu and the Republic of China, Taiwan for funding the project, the Ministry of Sport,  the Management and staff of Public Works, Ms Jolin Davis and Ms Cavelle Brookes who are our home-grown  architects  and we want to thank them for their contribution to the development of St Peters.  The contractor is Mr Maurice Isaac and I would also extend appreciation to him for the work done so far and we look forward to the completion.

20. Once again, it is my hope that this project will encourage all young people to get involved in sports as we strive to harness the talents within the community and further improve the quality of life of all of our people.

Thank you.