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UPDATE: Softball League opens today, March 29

- renovation work done ahead of league opening
This year’s Softball League is officially on with an opening ceremony set for today, March 29, 2014. Photo: VINO
The league has been named in honour of Berth ‘Big Man’ Henley. Photo: provided
The league has been named in honour of Berth ‘Big Man’ Henley. Photo: provided
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
After being unable to have a league in 2013, uncertainty now looms over the opening of the British Virgin Islands Softball Association’s (BVISA) 2014 league slated originally slated for Saturday, March 1, 2014. Photo: VINO
After being unable to have a league in 2013, uncertainty now looms over the opening of the British Virgin Islands Softball Association’s (BVISA) 2014 league slated originally slated for Saturday, March 1, 2014. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
The current state of the Old Recreation Grounds has been referred to as deplorable. Photo: VINO
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - This year’s Berth ‘Big Man’ Henley Softball League is officially on with an opening ceremony set for today, March 29, 2014 at 4PM at the Old Recreation Ground in Long Bush.

Several areas of the recreation ground, including the dugout and announcer’s box, have benefited from renovation works and now display fresh coats of paint while other sections of the ground have been cleaned up and repairs done.

Reports indicate that the renovation work has been due to the efforts of the National Recreation Trust. However, attempts to contact Chairman of the National Recreation Trust Mr Roy Barry for comment were unsuccessful up to post time.

There will be a march past leading from the UP’s Cineplex parking lot followed by an opening ceremony as previously planned.  

This year's league is powered by Digicel BVI.  

 See previous story posted February 25, 2014:

Softball season postponed due to deplorable grounds

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – After being unable to have a league in 2013, uncertainty now looms over the opening of the British Virgin Islands Softball Association’s (BVISA) 2014 league originally slated for Saturday, March 1, 2014.

Following a meeting held late yesterday, February 24, 2014 the executive decided to postpone the opening of the league until Saturday, March 29, 2014 due to the poor conditions of the softball field and the surroundings at the Old Recreation Grounds in Long Bush in hopes that the repairs will be completed.

Sources revealed that the league which is to be named in honour of Bert ‘Big Man’ Henley remains in jeopardy of not opening at all because of the deplorable conditions of the facilities, including the announcer’s booth.

According to sources, the body responsible for overseeing the facilities, the National Recreation Trust, has indicated that they have no funds for the major repairs that are badly needed.

However, when contacted, Chairman of the Recreation Trust Mr Roy Barry said he could not offer a comment on the issue and advised that this news site contact the Ministry of Education.

Up to post time President of the Association, Mr Neville Smith was unavailable for comment. Efforts to reach education officials were also unsuccessful up to post time.

Teams slated for the Bert ‘Big Man’ Henley League are: Pythons, Hawks, ESHS Rams, West End Warriors and Lady Crushers (Ladies); and Reds, Pirates, Blue Wings, Latinos/Spanish and Power Outage (Men).

Teams scheduled to play on opening day are the Pythons vs Hawks (Ladies) and Reds vs Blue Wings (Men).

Everyone is expected to be in full uniform for the march pass on March 29 where the group will move from the UP's Cineplex parking lot to the Old Recreation Grounds. Teams not represented with at least 9 players will be fined.

34 Responses to “UPDATE: Softball League opens today, March 29”

  • ooooo (25/02/2014, 10:06) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    it seems like since andrew left nothing was done to this place?
  • andrew (25/02/2014, 10:07) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    WOW!---MY GOD!
  • Eh? (25/02/2014, 10:22) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply

    OMG!!! What the hell is this NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR with the Recreation Trust doing? I hate it when we hire people who don't know their a.. from their elbow.

    Every time we get political appointments we get less value for money. Shocks man!

    They busy trying to see how they can suck money out of the treasury instead of maintaining the damn sports facilities. Shocks man!!!

    • wow (25/02/2014, 12:47) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
      How can he be blamed for people being nasty? If they start charging for using the parks then you all will make noise even more. Do you think money grows on trees? Why the association can't put up man power and funding and clean up the place? Everything is poor Government. The people that sell food, drinks etc. there where does the money go? The small fee that's paid sometimes to enter, where does it go? Why should Government have to fund horse racing, basketball, baseball and everything else while people have fun and don't take care of anything anymore? Enough is enough. If Government fix them they should put new rules and stiff penalties in place.
  • Hmm (25/02/2014, 10:26) Like (12) Dislike (5) Reply
    A set of nasty people in this place that cant take care of anything and expect Government to do everything for them.
  • incompetent (25/02/2014, 10:34) Like (4) Dislike (10) Reply
    Another MVW failure.
    • ooooo (25/02/2014, 11:24) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      how come he is not in these photos?...that aint like he?...LOL
    • BeHonest (25/02/2014, 12:41) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
      How can this be another MVW failure? If persons been paid by the Recreation Trust to clean and maintain these facilities are not supervised or evaluated to make sure they are doing what is expected then the job should be given to someone else. Maintenance of recreational facilities is key and the persons using them should take more pride in them.
  • bvi (25/02/2014, 10:52) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    The district representative for the Fourth District is fast asleep while the residents that use that field is suffering; and the representative for the Eight District is taking all the money and fixing up the Greenland Field.
  • Virgin Son (25/02/2014, 10:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yet MVW spent over 200G on consultants, 100 G on a dinner and 50 G to paper neginie…waste of time hope elections comes fast meshon
  • the rock (25/02/2014, 11:18) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    the blame here is not the ministers..the softball association is a bunch of lazy A$$es..they want everything to just fall in they hands..last year the excuse was the lights..imagine that..not the lights are up far a few months now and what..u got that dude they everyday coaching the kids..he is fast asleep too..look where he works youth affairs and sports..how come those guys down in the 3rd district don't have this problem..might as well we give them the league to run in town too!
  • bam see (25/02/2014, 11:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is that a mattress in the picture? Like somebody sleeping there?
  • Hmm (25/02/2014, 11:53) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply

    Granted the Minister of Sports is sleeping on ALL sports softball more so ...

    The league always have so many players. What are they saying? What do they do? Besides come late to play and complain about what government ain't doing ...

    If you for the sport be for the sport and start to help yourself a bit first before you complain ...
    Issue with that everyone want to lean on one person all the time ..
  • wow (25/02/2014, 12:45) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
    So why the association can't host fundraisers and get together to fix the field? Did Government mess up that place like that? Every single time they spend money there it's turned into a garbage heap again. When will BVI people start taking care of things and being responsible. I wouldn't spend one damn dime more on it if I were Government. If Government spends another set of thousands on it they need to start charging everybody who uses it. This is just plain out wrong and people are just too damn nasty and don't care about anybody but themselves. Looking at the place a few guys from the teams can get together, clean it up and paint it up nicely. Even if Government provides funding to purchase certain things but why wait on Govt. for everything?
  • one eye (25/02/2014, 13:27) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    Where is the photo minister?
  • CIA (25/02/2014, 15:20) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    You all need to shut the front door about who ain't doing in the softball association. The B. V. I. Softball Association has been functional over the years thanks to the President Mr. Neville Smith. He has never hesitated to spend his personal money on softball year after year. The association owes Neville Smith.
    What is the purpose of the Recreational Trust? Why do they continue to pay people year after year and the facilities are in deplorable conditions? Why doesn't the Trust secure their property? The softball field is like an open sepulcher. People using it to sleep, sex and everything else. Stop throwing blame at the wrong people and blame who need to get blame.
    Ask the government when last they give money to the B. V. I. Softball Association?
    • Hmm (26/02/2014, 00:16) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply

      As I was saying everyone want to lean on one person.

      Recreational Trust seem to be a joke or a set up .. which one!? And these people in government seem to be slick in dem backside .. money goes where they want it to go and if it don't have a back door to their pocket it seem it won't go ...

      Government has NO NATIONAL PRIDE and that is the long and short of the shame in BVI ... Poor countries got better fields that BVI!
    • CIO (27/02/2014, 04:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      the government got smart so them stop given the association money..the association is not functional and u know that..if it was the field would of never look that way..again a bunch of last behinds on that association!
  • Build and Maintain (25/02/2014, 17:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need invest on maintaining our buildings... this is ridic!!!
  • PENN (25/02/2014, 18:18) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    One word two years of neglect
  • ting to talk (25/02/2014, 18:29) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why must the association fund raise for the up keep of a govenment facility, when persons are being paid to maintain it. People need to stop talking when they don't know the facts. Every year money is placed in the budget for softball(the national sport) and the powers that be use it for whatever they see fit.
    So you tell me why pesons that volunteer their time to a sport need to spend their hard earn money. I am sure not many of you would do this....The softball field is like everything government owns, they put up but don't maintain, take a look at the sports complex, the track and the list goes on. If government would start to put priority on the country's needs instead of trying to outdo each other we will be better off.
    Yes the league was off for a year but what has been done to the field since then ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
    • Well... (25/02/2014, 21:16) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply

      Well let's be real. If people are really getting paid to upkeep the place we all know who they are, but do we say anything about it? NO! If Government take their contract it will be 'poor lil man'. We created this. Glad it's biting everyone in the a... IF I was Walwyn I won't spend a damn dime on it or I would fire every single contractor with responsibility in that area fortwith, provided that they're being paid and not working. Nonsense. IT's the same with schools that have a dedicated maintenance team but the place always look like s..t. What we paying them for?

  • Yea but (25/02/2014, 21:25) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    When they try to maintain it then you cry louder about access and unfairness. Pick a battle. The only way they can maintain these is to lock them down unless people are paying to use them. Then what? You will hear all manner of shit... ya'll too small minded.
    • Ting to talk. (26/02/2014, 07:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      When have they tried to close the softball field for maintenance? Stop trying to find excuses for the ministry and recreation's trust incompetences.... If the league wasn't slated to open the place would still remain the same. That's how all government works never proactive always reactive.
    • @ yea but (27/02/2014, 07:45) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Mvw go sit down from bloging piss
  • play ball (26/02/2014, 11:14) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    The ndp has failed the people how could they not address this?
  • ... (26/02/2014, 22:07) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    i cant understand this recreation trust is only been there for less than one year on i can see a lot of improvement since they are there i see the f the place that they are looking after are well keep we have to understand that the recreation trust have to get money to do what is there to be done . when the people who in charge try to charge for the grounds to make money the people go to some body bigger who will tell them they don.t have to pay so how these people would be able to there work well. let the people do there work
  • vex (29/03/2014, 09:57) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    vino pressure made mvw do something
  • fatcs (30/03/2014, 12:04) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    but he still has not do a thing for sports in two years
  • ... (30/03/2014, 19:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Next!
  • jeff (16/02/2015, 20:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    xD


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