Caribbean Times 88th Issue - Wednesday 1st February 2017

2 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g
Wednesday 1st February 2017
Sir Vivian Richards to coach in Cuba
By Everton Barnes
Cricket legend, Sir Vivian
Richards, is offering his
services to travel to Cuba to
coach cricket as part of the
exchange between Antigua
and Barbuda and the Spanish-speaking
nation.
Making the announcement,
Trade, Industry, Commerce,
Sports and National
Festivals Minister, E.P. Chet
Greene, said this comes out
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cont’d from pg 1
significant amounts of money upgrading the
ARG in particular ahead of Carnival last
year.
“We take no blame for the conditions
at YASCO or other sporting facilities; that
blame belongs to the UPP.
“However, as a responsible government,
we take responsibility for fixing them,” he
stated.
The minister drew attention to a demonstration
that was held at YASCO on Saturday
by a group of ‘Concerned Parents’ calling for
among other things, the upgrade and repair
of the grounds. But based on an announcement
made in the Throne Speech, Greene
said the demonstrators were ‘unreasonable’.
“In the Throne Speech just three weeks
ago, the Governor General made specific
reference to fixing YASCO.
“We are currently negotiating with the
Farara Family for acquiring adjacent lands
of the Memorandum of Understanding
signed by both
countries last year.
“This is the first time that
we will have Antigua and
Barbuda nationals traveling
to Cuba in this capacity
as we will send coaches for
cricket and for steel pan. I
am happy to announce that
National Here Sir Viv has
offered his services to go to
Cuba to teach Cubans the
game of cricket,” the minister
announced.
He disclosed that the
performance and creative
arts form part of the MOU
through which a National
Sculpture Park will be created
on the grounds of the former
Ottos Primary School
at Radio Range. “This park
will feature sculptures depicting
the country’s African
ancestry, including the dark
period of slavery. Our African
ancestry will be memorialized
at the park to serve
as a teaching-aid for our
people and it will also form
part of the nation’s tourist attractions,”
he reported.
Under the MOU, he reported
that there is now an
air services agreement between
the two nations that
is being serviced by PAWA
Airline out of the Dominican
Republic providing regular
flights into Cuba.
The minister also praised
the role of the Office of the
National Authorising Officer
(ONAO), headed by Ambassador
to CARICOM, Dr.
Clarence Henry, for organizing
a trade mission to Cuba
out of which came the MOU.
Meanwhile, the minister
also launched a ‘buy local’
campaign that seeks to encourage
support for local
farmers, manufacturers and
producers. “We must create
linkages, not leakages as we
encourage consumers, hoteliers
and others to patronize
local industry. He noted that
each dollar spent locally is
retention in the local economy.
However, the minister
also wants local producers to
be equally mindful that their
products, whether there’re
from agriculture, manufacturing
or the creative arts,
must be of a high standard.
“We must protect the ‘Antigua
and Barbuda’ brand at
all times!” he declared.
so that we can expand the grounds and put in
a proper track and other facilities. Nothing
could take place between the Throne Speech
and the Budget debate.
“I feel the people who participated were
disingenuous,” the minister declared. He
expressed the view that their actions were
motivated by politics as there was a stated
commitment by the government upgrade
YASCO.
“Politics must not play a part in our cultural
and sporting affairs,” Greene admonished.
Regarding the ARG, Greene said the facility
is a national landmark and of great importance
to the country as the most popular
and used sporting and cultural venue as well
as a tourist attraction.
He noted that he is not happy with the
current state of the ARG as it is his view that
the facilities are not regularly cleaned nor
properly maintained.