Hon. Fraser said, “The same way there is a fund dedicated to infrastructural maintenance and development, there should be a fund dedicated to the development of our youth.” Photo: VINO

Youth Pastor Colin A. Gunthrope, who represented Bishop John I. Cline during the ceremony, called on the youths to display qualities of abstraction and reciprocity and related that what they sow is what they were going to get out. Photo: VINO

President of the BVI Basketball Federation, Mr Byron J. Hodge, assured that the league was sanctioned by the federation. Photo: VINO

Mr Milton McLean issued the rules and expectations of players to those in attendance and it was stated that players would be disciplined when they fell afoul of the rules. Photo: VINO

Present at the opening ceremony were L-R Hon. Marlon A. Penn, Hon. Julian Fraser, RA, Mr Byron J. Hodge, Walter Barret, Colin Gunthrope and a representative of Digicel BVI. Photo: VINO

Members of some of the teams assembled last evening. Photo: VINO

Players in action during the game. Photo: VINO

Players in action during the game. Photo: VINO

Players in action during the game. Photo: VINO

Players in action during the game. Photo: VINO

Players in action during the game. Photo: VINO

During the opening ceremony for the start of Julian Fraser’s Save the Seed Energy Centre Intermediate Basketball League, Hon. Fraser said, “The same way there is a fund dedicated to infrastructural maintenance and development, there should be a fund dedicated to the development of our youth,” to loud applause

He noted that governments try to assist where possible in ensuring that young people get the kind of assistance they can but [governments] cannot do it all. “This motion is for young people,” he said, “this is for youth affairs.”

Hon. Fraser expressed that youth development should be made a priority and should no longer continue to be given lip service. He said the Centre, which is located at Duffs Bottom, will be used to ensure that all that is possible will be done to develop the youths.

Earlier, Youth Pastor Colin A. Gunthrope, who represented Bishop John I. Cline during the ceremony, called on the youths to display qualities of abstraction and reciprocity and related that what they sow is what they were going to get out.

President of the BVI Basketball Federation, Mr Byron J. Hodge, assured that the league was sanctioned. “We look forward to big things from this league, I hope everybody takes team spirit as a main important ingredient into the league,” he said.

According to Hodge, sometime in mid-September a team from St Kitts is expected to arrive and he hoped that persons from the Intermediate League would be selected to participate against the visiting team.

Meanwhile, Mr Milton McLean issued the rules and expectations of players to those in attendance and said players would be disciplined when they fell afoul of the rules.

“We want to have a nice, smooth, fun league; that means players, coaches [and] fans have got to show good discipline, it’s all about fun,” McLean stated.

In the first two games played last night, Jr West Gunners prevailed against Swaggas 20-18 in the 9-12 years age group while Talk Done routed the West Gunners team 70-51 for victory in the Men’s game.

In today's game, Knight will face off against Da 3rd first up while Gilas will come up against On Top Ah Thing.

See results below: