16 scholarships to GC Foster College Of Physical Education and Sport in St. Catherine will be rewarded to two school boys from the eight cricket teams that will advance to the quarter finals of the Social Development Commission’s National Twenty/20 Community Cricket Competition. Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Honourable Olivia Grange made the surprise announcement at the Awards Ceremony for the competition on Wednesday, November 9, 2011.
Minister Grange further stated that the 16 scholarships will not be limited to cricket only, but the awardees will have the option to choose other sporting areas.
The Minister said, “The young men who will be chosen will have the opportunity to be trained professionally in other sporting areas of preference and this will help them to build a foundation for themselves and their families.”
In celebrating Jamaica 50 our Golden anniversary as a nation next year, Minister Grange also opted the first place cash prize from seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) to one million dollars (1,000,000) which is a significant boost for the competition. Minister Grange explained, “I will not be increasing the second, third and fourth place cash prizes and so next year when the teams are competing they will want to go for the million dollars.”
(Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Hon. Olivia Grange)
She also added that the Social Development Commission has been very instrumental in the effort of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to use sports as a means to build and unite communities. She ended saying, “The National Twenty/20 Community Cricket Competition is vital to this process. I commend the Social Development Commission on this professionally run competition which has become more popular with each staging.”