Simon presents b’ball wear and athletic gear to SMS schools and promises corporate sponsorship under UPP
MP Kelvin “Shugy” Simon is putting in the work ahead of his future
elevation to the position of minister of sports by outfitting two
schools in his constituency.
The Bolans Primary and the Urlings Primary – the latter being the
defending zonal sports champions – received basketball uniforms
and athletic gear, respectively, from the St. Mary’s South
representative on Wednesday, January 24, with the promise of
ongoing support from a United Progressive Party Administration.
“When the UPP returns to office, we will end the practice of students
having to go begging for sponsors,” Simon tells REAL News.
“Instead, we will see to it that our schools are provided with
corporate sponsorship, so the children can concentrate on
performance.”
The representative – who is a former national basketball player,
himself – promises to help turn his Party’s manifesto plans into
reality. Accordingly, he is not waiting to assume office, but trying to
ensure – from now – that the student-athletes have what they need
to succeed in the arena and on the field.
As recently as last Thursday night, during the staging of The People’s
Parliament , Simon chastised the Gaston Browne Administration and
Sports Minister Daryll Matthew for giving short shrift to sports in
the 2024 Budget and in the Debate that followed.
Simon said that even a cursory analysis of the Budget would show
that the allocation is consumed by salaries and wages and
administrative obligations, leaving leas than a million dollars for the
development of the various disciplines.
Accordingly, the neglect of sports – athletes, training, and facilities –
continues to be Simon’s pet peeve.
He notes that even in the sport where most practitioners excel –
swimming – the number of athletes hoping to compete has had to be
reduced, since the only pool facility cannot accommodate their
numbers.
In the meantime, the ground-breaking on an Aquatics Centre,
carried out two years ago at Tomlinsons, has gone as dead as the
creation of the cemetery at the same location, he says.
