UPDATE: 'Min. Walwyn should be ashamed; statement not accurate! - 'Sheep' Smith
“I am sticking with what I said, I spoke my mind and what I said is the truth… not much was done or is being done for the sport of softball in the Virgin Islands by the Government,” he said.
Mr Smith, also called 'Sheep' in an article published yesterday July 9, 2014 on this news site stated that once and for all he will not be returning to the sport, whether as President or player, as he is overly frustrated of pumping out-of-pocket cash into the game and government not fulfilling its obligations.
Subsequently the Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn was reported to have taken offence to some claims of Mr Smith and had himself presented a number of figures and made some statements. Smith said that he does not intend to be in any tit-for-tat with the Hon Minister as he has nothing personal against him and said that the Hon Walwyn was not accurate with his statements. “I got what I wanted out of him, a response,” said Smith.
“95% of those figure he has there are monies that were given to the Recreational Trust for Recreational services which the government is obligated to doing, it’s not directly for the Softball Federation and that is what I was explaining ,” said Mr Smith.
According to Smith the government giving $30k for softball in 2012 is true but those monies represent bills for 2011, “But the fact that he said he give monies for 2013 that is not the true, we haven’t received nothing for 2013. The money he gave in 2012 was for awards for the 2011 league.
Smith said that the Minister should be ashamed to say that they were giving monies for tournaments as they would have had to cancel tournaments for 2013 as a result of Government claiming that they did not have money to support the Federation.
“But yet still he is giving monies to private entities to go to tournaments. If you can give a club $24k, nearly giving the same amount they are giving the association what is that telling me? You’re not helping the Federation, you are helping private entities,” he said.
Smith also disputed claims that efforts were being made for weeks to have the Federation uplift a cheque for $10k. “I never received a single call, if they really got something for me or the Federation they usually do find me or others. This is so strange,” said Smith.
Smith added that it was some hours after the story was published highlighting his frustrations that he received a call saying that $10K cheque was ready. “That is money that was spent long before that cheque was even signed,” he said.
Smith said that from reading the report of the Minster it appears that he, Smith, is a thief and a liar.
“That’s how I am feeling but those figures have nothing to do with softball directly. It’s for the recreational services and not the softball federation,” he said.
“I don’t want to be rude to him (Hon. Walwyn) but what he is saying is wrong… don’t come try to bash me because I am telling the truth!” he said.
See previous story published July 9, 2014:
Walking away with a heavy heart – Neville A. Smith leaving softball
- accuses NDP Govt. of neglecting the sport, giving only lip service & insulting the sport
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Come the end of the local Softball Federation’s fiscal year, its President of over ten years will be throwing in the towel not because his tenure would have come to an end but rather because of frustration.
“I am walking away from playing and from also being the president because of [financial] losses. I am not happy playing no more because there is too much distractions, too much frustration to deal with… it’s like you going, going and you are not getting anywhere,” Mr Neville A. Smith said.
He said that persons would have heard him several times before saying that at the end of one year or the other he would have been giving up the seat but subsequently return, however this time around there is no turning back.
Mr Smith spoke his guts about his love for the sports, the loads of money he personally pumped into the sport of Softball to keep it alive in the Virgin Islands (VI) and the blatant neglect of the government to honour their commitment to the sport.
“The government is not putting their support into the sport as they used to, the support is not there anymore, you getting a lot of lip service,” he told this news site. He said that government has committed an annual subvention of about $10k for the sport but as at today they have not received a single dollar. Keeping the game, its league and the body together depends on him personally delving into his pocket pulling out clumps of dollars at a time.
“For this whole season that we have started the only help that we have gotten from government thus far is when we were opening the league they give a little facelift and that only happened after the state of the facility was highlighted in the media.”
Pay to enter, raise funds
He said that several persons continue to suggest that there should be a small fee to enter the games in order to generate funds but according to Mr Smith the still sorry state of the facility with holes in the walls, poorly functioning toilets and other facilities at the field does not auger well for a paying public.
He said that they would walk around and collect donations from persons while the games are in progress, run a bar and such initiatives but those do not suffice. “Invest the money in having the environment conducive, then we charge a door fee and the money goes to maintenance, but no they not doing anything for the sport.”
He further stated that they were unable to play softball during 2013 because of the problems experienced with lights. “So it left us in spot where financially we had no money,” he said, noting that the clock had to be fixed, balls had to be bought, bar had to be run among other expenses, which all had to come out of his pocket in order for the tournament to go on this year.
Shouting from rooftop
“I don’t like to jump on the roof and tell everybody what I am doing personally, through my company I am always sponsoring with big money but the bloggers don’t know how deep in my pocket I keep going to save softball and they say all sorts of things.”
He said that for the current league balls alone cost in the vicinity of $5,000 to $6,000 and again he had to use his personal resources to get those. “It’s frustrating to the extent I am losing the love, I have personal things to do and I am not getting to do them because all my money going there and if can’t give a 100% of myself it’s better I walk away,” he said.
One on the things he said he will not see happen before his eyes is allowing the sport to die. He said that he is prepared to nurture and guide others who may have the interest, serve as mentor and guide, and possibly hold clinics for budding youths. “I would not turn my back but it is time someone else takes the torch and run with it. Maybe with me out the government would support, maybe they want me out so I am going for the sake of the sport. I don’t have anything to prove to anyone anymore, been there done that,” he said.
Running for politics!!
“It makes me feel I should step down and maybe run for politics to be honest. I might get more done,” he said. He said that word on the street is that he is stepping down from the position because of his new found interest in the political arena.
“I am now thinking that I should really run because I might be able to help the sport from that perspective but …”
He said that he had never entertained the thought of running for politics despite some public view. According to Smith he feels that getting into such an arena should be taken on at the request or suggestion of the public if they feel you have that quality.
“If I am asked to maybe I might consider seeing that they have it out there. Maybe if I do indeed run I might be able to help save the sport but get it straight I am not, not leaving because on any political ambition, I am frustrated, I can’t do it anymore, let others try now… it’s time for new blood,” he stated.
National Sport
Mr Smith said that while the current Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn would have chipped in a bit for softball he has failed to properly represent and invest in the sport. He said that the Hon Minister is guilty of pumping loads of monies to other new and existing groupings in the sport arena and turning a blind eye on softball.
He is also peeved and feels insulted in the fact that the Minister is seeking public suggestions for which sport should be the national one as he feels softball is a “BVI” thing. “Everybody know that persons who ascend into cricket started by playing softball, everywhere you turn for time and beyond softball is the sport that from the smallest child played and still plays,” he said.
“There are a lot of things that you should go out there and find out… who or what is the national this or that and it hasn’t been done, so why you have to go out there to find out what is the national sport?” he asked.
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70 Responses to “UPDATE: 'Min. Walwyn should be ashamed; statement not accurate! - 'Sheep' Smith ”
So it's NDP's fault that locals don't give a s..t about soft ball anymore? NOBODY shows up, NOBODY wants to support, but it's Government fault? Soft ball has been s..t street for the last 10yrs and more. Let's grow the hell up man. We rather stay home watching reality shows and minding people business on social networks than supporting our own people. CBC Basket Tourney was the same s..t, but it's always goVernment fault.
I am waiting to see him run, If he thinks the people of the 8th District silly? I will have a ring side seat for this one.
He can't even run a softball league, blaming the Government for his ineptness as a leader.
That's the best you could come up with to discredit Hon. Penn and his team? You people need to get over yourselves, 2011 already happened and Dancia lost. Too funny. This is the first in decades District 8 is in the spotlight, with so much activity.
- Willard Wheatley Staff Room
- Sewage off Greenland roads
- Main Sewage Works
- New Roads and Sidewalks
- New Water Lines
- New Fisherman Dock
- Greenland Field
- Multi Purpose Stadium
- Parhamtowm main road
- Beef Island Revitalization
- Long Bay Beach
- New Georgie Hill road.. Must I continue?
You could try that garbage somewhere else not with the people of District 8. The people of the 8th District are well informed, brilliant people and could see for themselves. The proof in the pudding is in the eating. If that's not progress, you wouldn't know it if it slapped you in the face.
A known VIP supporter bashing NDP, what's new? What did VIP do for the field when they were there 4yrs ago? You all speak as if the field was excellent and NDP mash it up? VIP did NOTHING for the field, NOTHING! It was NDP/Myron who fixed the dangerous lights there. You all too f..king ungrateful!
She I wish you will run in the 8th m..one is a waste just like m..on
Sad to see you go.
Stay strong my brother!
So it is not quite true for Smith to say he never entertained the thought of running for politics.
Chappy salary is not for the softball field alone and comes under the recreation trust for several areas. So that is not softball salary.
So really it is only the $20 tow for 2 years. The balls alone cost over $6 thousand a year! And how he mean they been calling Sheep to collect a check? Really? In this small place you can't find Sheep? Who turns down money?
The majority of what he spent was on the lights which because of how Myron deal with it cause softball to stop for two years practically. Over $180kof that was for lights alone.
So don't make it like they invest so much into softball.
Why the Scoreboard not working? Why the pads in the outfield torn with no cushion? Why the fields in Sea Cows and Baggers Bay not fixed up? Why the real National hadn't been able to travel for some 4-5 years now? Why isn't there a youth program in place to continue to grow the sport? Why is the concession rottening with rats and Santos living in it?
Why he looking for a national sport and turning a blind eye to the one that has been around for years? Total disrespect to softball. I am sorry but I am with Sheep on this one.
Softball is not any darned sport for retired baseball players. You talking crap. It is in fact for both genders and females can access more scholarships to play softball than almost any other sport. When we the men go away for tournaments it is young men we play against. Men like myself who pay both baseball and fast pitch softball. There are under 19 &25 tournaments all over the world for both males and females. So please stop talking p..s and misleading the public. But I do agree with the rest of your comments. We can't get 300 feet though not on the current fields
Keep it 100
@Put ur real name up nuh
You have a territory to look after not an organization. If sheep had a problem with the facilities well he must be directed to Recreation Trust. If he is looking for support from your ministry well give them the money when it is available but don't waste time dealing with issues of a non profit organization. They should be doing their fund raising to have their books in the green and don't depend on government for everything.
Money is paid when it is available.
Tell Orlando to take it out of the reserve.