As part of its country-wide initiative to upgrade local community grounds, the Sports Company of Trinidad & Tobago co-hosted an event Tuesday with the Trinidad & Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) to handover a brand new pavilion and commission floodlights at the La Horquetta Phase II Recreation Ground.
The close-knit community, many of whom live on the outskirts of the ground, was out in full force to witness the event, at which the Honourable Anil Roberts (Minister of Sport), the Honourable Jairam Seemungal (Member of Parliament for La Horquetta/Talparo) and Mrs. Susilla Ramkissoon-Mark (Deputy Chairman, T&TEC) delivered remarks at the formal ceremony. MP Seemungal also praised the Sports Company on the joint initiative, remarking that the community of La Horquetta produced several world-class athletes including Darrel Brown and Jamal Gay. Mr Seemungal expected the trend to continue as there will be many events planned for the newly-lit Grounds which will involve young persons in constructive activities.
In his brief address, Minister Roberts alluded to the Government’s philosophy on reducing the impact of crime, noting the importance of “creating teams within communities” to ensure that recreational facilities contribute to the building of strong families and communities through recreation and sport. Minister Roberts was understandably eager to get onto the field, as he was dressed to play a friendly football game between a La Horquetta XI and the Sports Company Football Team.
The Sports Company was responsible for the installation of the brand new FIFA-certified goal posts and nets at the Grounds and also handed over equipment (goal posts, balls, cones) to two community groups - the La Horquetta Sporting Academy and the Phase I Family Inc. Director of the La Horquetta Sporting Academy Fallon Thomas used the nation’s watchwords ‘Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve’ to demonstrate that partnerships will be the solution to the problems faced within the community and in the country as a whole. Mr Fallon reiterated his organisation’s commitment to developing youth through sport and offering positive alternatives to deviant and criminal behaviour.
Once the lights were switched on, the football match began and was watched by a large crowd of interested residents who avidly cheered on their team.
