Cricket gets Jeffrey Stollmeyer Award

And he credits the successes of the young people to a National Strategic Plan and the Vision 20/20 Initiative which has identified five fundamental pillars that highlights key areas of national development.

His comments were made at the First Citizens Sports Foundation Awards at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain on Wednesday night.

Hunt said that the twin-island republic is now on the verge of launching the other phase of its development plan for sports called “Pathways to Sporting Excellence.”

He explained that development of people is the Government’s main object. “It is the development of people that is the basis for the Elite Athletes Assistance Programme which provides funding to ensure that our outstanding young athletes achieve their full potential.

“It is the development of people which has promoted the construction, renovation and upgrade of sporting facilities throughout Trinidad and Tobago,” Hunt said.

He encouraged young sportsmen and women to activate their will to succeed and their desire to win, noting that if they display talent and potential, the Government will single them out and assist them in becoming the best that they can be.

He pointed out also that the First Citizens Awards Ceremony comes at a time when many of the nation’s youth are in need of direction and guidance and therefore the awards will shine a spotlight on the sportsmen and women that excelled on Wednesday.

Hunt dismissed the concept of having a “lost generation”, saying that the Government believes that such a perception ignores the many young citizens who are striving daily to fulfill their dream in sports.

“It ignores the achievements of young people like Jehue Gordon, Njisane Phillip, Kimberlee John-Williams, Josanne Lucas, the Sportswoman of the Year; Rondell Sorrillo, Adrian Barath and the late Giselle Salandy,” he said.

Meanwhile 400 Metres sprinter Renny Quow and 400 Metres Hurdler Josanne Lucas as expected clinched the Sportsman and Woman of the Year Awards at the gala cere- mony. Jehue Gordon was named the Youth of the Year while the sport of cricket received the Jeffrey Stollmeyer Award for administrative excellence. Lucas and Quow both bronze medallists at the World Championships in Berlin, Germany last year were the outstanding favourites for the top awards.