DURING a recent visit to Ithaca in Berbice, Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Youth, Culture and Sport, Dr. George Norton, encouraged the councillors of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council to submit proposals based on the community’s needs in the area of sports and assured that his ministry would examine areas where they could be of assistance.

“As you know, we have rehabilitated your basketball court, and your early childhood centre will soon be opened to create jobs and serve your community. We also want you to get your cultural groups and so in order so that you can become beneficiaries of cultural grants,” Minister Norton encouraged.

A young footballer, Shakeel Peters, told the visiting team that he has taken the initiative to coach a number of children in football, but currently lacks the equipment to properly execute the teachings.

Meanwhile, teacher of the Ithaca Primary School, Ms.Yutundi Grant, also lobbied for assistance to have a board for students to play table tennis.
“As it is, they usually set up tables and so to play. It’s more like ping pong, but with the right equipment, they can do so much better,” Ms. Grant reasoned. Another group also requested assistance for some basketball gears.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones guaranteed the community that he will return in a few days with all of the requested materials.
In the meantime, Minister Norton was able to put smiles on the faces of the basketball players in the community by providing a set of basketball gears