Ministry & BCA Reaffirm Commitment To Advance Local Cricket

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment (MYSCE) has pledged its continued support for the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) as both entities work together to advance the development of cricket across the island.

This assurance came from Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith, during a courtesy call with BCA’s new Chief Executive Officer, Paul Skinner, and Vice-President, Calvin Hope, at the Ministry’s headquarters at Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, this past Tuesday.

New CEO Skinner expressed his eagerness to collaborate with the Ministry “for the betterment of sports, and especially cricket, in Barbados”.

Vice-President Hope commended the Government of Barbados for its “tremendous legacy of committing wholeheartedly to cricket over the past decades”, adding that the country’s support has been “on par with any other nation in the world”.

He also disclosed that BCA President, Conde Riley, would not be seeking re-election during the Association’s upcoming elections in August, and that the organisation was expected to have a new head by mid-month.

During the meeting, among other items discussed, Mr. Hope also called for the revival of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Sports Programme, highlighting its importance to the development of local cricket.  In response, Minister Griffith revealed that the Ministry recently held discussions with the BDF regarding the reactivation of the programme.

Minister Griffith, in turn, encouraged the BCA to intensify talent identification efforts within the Herman Griffith Primary Schools Cricket Competition.

He urged the Association to develop structured programmes to nurture young batters and bowlers, noting that the Blenheim facility, with newly installed batting and bowling nets, was available to support these initiatives.

He also encouraged the BCA to expand on the Captain’s Coaching Programme, introduced by the Ministry, and to incorporate life skills development into cricket training. 

“It’s important that as young cricketers succeed and earn from the game, they also learn how to manage their money wisely,” he stressed. 

Also attending the meeting were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Joy Adamson, Director of Sports at the National Sports Council, Neil Murrell, and Sports Development Officer, Shawn Burke. (PR/GIS)

CAPTION: From left to right – The Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) new Chief Executive Officer, Paul Skinner; Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith; and BCA Vice-President, Calvin Hope, in discussion following their courtesy call at the Ministry’s headquarters this past Tuesday