30 athletes to represent BVI at CARIFTA! Gov’t offers $50K!
The Government of the Virgin Islands has offered the BVI Athletics Association (BVIAA) a $50,000 grant as the territory’s young athletes get ready to compete at the CARIFTA Games set for April 8 to 10 in Nassau, The Bahamas.
The BVIAA has announced that 30 local athletes will be representing the BVI at this year’s Games, which marks the 50th staging of CARIFTA.
Minister for Sports and Education Sharie de Castro handed over the cheque during a brief BVIAA press conference held on Sunday, March 26.
“The BVIAA has taken the leads among all other federations and associations. They have submitted their annual budget and their request was $50,000 and I have a cheque here, on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands to ensure that we give the funding as requested to be able to develop athletics in the Virgin Islands,” de Castro stated.
She further said her ministry and BVIAA have been in talks to development sports in the territory. Those discussions led to officials agreeing on three priority areas — funding, infrastructure and grassroots.
Meanwhile, Athletics Association President Steve Augustine said he felt encouraged to continue his goal to provide opportunities for the athletes and confirmed that he was confident in this year’s CARIFTA delegation.
Augustine further noted that he knows the team is fully prepared — mentally and physically. During last year’s staging of the Games, the BVI finished third on the medal table with four gold medals, two silvers and one bronze. Only Jamaica finished with more gold medals than the Virgin Islands.
Here are the names of the athletes who will represent the BVI at this year’s Games:
U17 Girls
Taryn Augustine
Shyra Stoutt
Shania Johnson
Jah’kyla Morton
A’Sia McMaster
Kenniqua Grate
Cristal Daly
U20 Girls
Savianna Joseph
Adaejah Hodge
Palesa Caesar
Kaelyaah Liburd
Kenyatta Grate
Amia Todman
A’Keela McMaster
Ashleigh Penn
U17 Males
J’Den Jackson
Othneil Gillings
Mario Carter
Tiondre Frett
U20 Males
Gabriel Cline
Jonathan Lynch
Orlando Douglas
Mychael Claxton
Andre Smikle
Jahshani Farrington
M’Khori Crabbe
Khamauri Crabbe
Mikei George
Tyreese James
Jaylen Callwood
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All the best to them!!! new fresh faces i see. Team BVI all the way!
God’s blessings on the BVI Team. Remember although most of the events are individual events,remember that there is no,”I” in Team and that you all must support each other whole heartedly and remain mentally strong and in good physical health.
Sheri De Castro I Love seeing this. Keep up the good work, and the team that is behind these youths, great job. Go Team BVI
Wow, 30, that is a lot,that cheque can only cover plane ticket. USVI sending about 10. Any way, good luck.
Hope we ain’t playing any politics here. Ms DeCastro not doing anything special here that any other education minister would not have done. Amen
Biggggg Joeee !!!!!!!
Why is that young man on the team? He does not come to school (well atleast my class) and is failing every subject. We have got to do better as educators, parents, coaches and students. We need to put adequate measures in place to help struggling student athletes.
Congratulations to coaches and everybody involved in getting these young people ready for the Carifta stage. We are eagerly looking forward to seeing you shine.
We urge you to think positive, run faster, jump higher and farther, throw further than you have ever before. We are already proud of you. We know you all got this. Practice that banton passing.
Feed off of that Adaejah Hodge energy. Her training is obviously A plus. Coaches, speak with her and see what you can integrate for the rest of the team. Super proud that all these young people met the requisite qualifications. GO TEAM!!!!
Who are you referring to?