Children from the Pine and Wildey communities were treated to a Christmas party on the grounds of the United States Embassy yesterday.
A special feature of the party was the presentation of US$10 000 worth of cricket and football gear to the Pinelands cricket and football clubs from United States Charge d’Affaires Brent Hardt.
He said: “These gifts are just one example of the embassy’s ongoing support for youth development in Barbados and throughout the Eastern Caribbean.
“We hope that this donation of cricket and football gear, as well as some other gifts to the young people here today . . . will help inspire the young boys and girls of the Pine and others in the community to pursue their dreams and fulfil their potential.”
He reminded the young children that many of Barbados’ sports icons such as Sir Garfield Sobers, Obadele Thompson and most recently Ryan Brathwaite, came out of small Barbadian communities but through discipline and determination became champions.
Member of Parliament for the area, Hamilton Lashley, also made a guest appearance as Santa Claus and presented each of the children with a gift.
Lashley highlighted the importance of partnerships between community organizations and agencies.
He said Goal 8 of the Millennium Development Goals focused on partnership for development, and one way to deal with the downturn of the economies across the Eastern Caribbean was through partnerships such as the one with the Pinelands Cricket Academy and Pinelands Football Club.
(LK)
