Sports gear for YTC inmates

Among the disciplines benefiting from the new equipment are boxing, hockey, basketball, football, rugby, badminton and tennis. Present at the handing-over yesterday were Minister Roger Boynes; Director of Sport Paul Newallo, and several officers from the Trinidad and Tobago Prisons Service.

Superintendent of Prisons Allan Jones, expressed gratitude to the ministry for their donation of the equipment, which he said will be well utilised in the sports programme run at the YTC. Jones noted that sports has always been one of the more popular and successful programmes at the facility, which attempts to rehabilitate young offenders. Boynes said the donation was one the ministry could not refuse because the proposal was well thought-out and articulate, outlining in detail all the facility’s requirements.

The minister remarked on the visit of Olympic bronze medallist, George Bovell III to the YTC in 2000, highlighting the warm reception Bovell received from the inmates and the words of encouragement he imparted.

He drew attention to the fact that the donation was in keeping with the National Youth Policy’s objective of assisting in the development of at-risk youth, who make up the population at the YTC. He also reminded those present of the large numbers of former inmates who have excelled in sport, making national teams and performing in their respective disciplines at home and abroad.