Dear Editor,
Are you kidding me? Our community's vibrancy and our children's future are at stake, all due to the distressing state of our sport facilities. It's disheartening to witness the transformation of one of our few sports havens into a place for drug dealers and vandals. And instead of addressing this crisis head-on, the authorities have allowed an important facility of our neighborhood to wither away, casting a shadow over our ability to access good sports facilities.
March 27, 2023, marked a turning point that we can no longer ignore. The Melford Hazel Sport Complex, once a vibrant sports spot, became a hotspot for hooliganism, with a volleyball game ending in a player's unfortunate injury. The aftermath led to a decision to shutter the facility on April 2, and it remains locked to this day.
It begs the question: where are our defenders of law and order? Where are our influential community leaders? Where are the vigilant security personnel and their formidable canines? These queries demand answers, and they demand solutions.
What has gone wrong? It's great to read about our community's bright talents, like the 19-year-old cricket sensation emerging from the St. Maarten Cricket program, earning a spot in the Under 19 West Indies Squad. And I can't help but reminisce about the days when our basketball players used to shine on college courts.
Our children's potential is boundless, but they need access to safe, nurturing spaces to cultivate their sports skills and aspirations. We must find a way to rekindle the flame of competitive spirit in our youth, giving them a platform to represent our island not just regionally, but on national and international stages as well. This is a call to action we cannot ignore.
Let's band together and reignite the passion that once coursed through our sports community. If it takes rallying financial support, we must step up. If it takes assuming the role of community watch parents, we must be there. We owe it to ourselves, our children, and the legacy of the neighborhood to reclaim what was taken from them. The absence of positive outlets can drive our youth down a perilous path, and we must ensure they have healthier alternatives.
We beseech our local authorities to recognize the urgency of this situation and act swiftly to breathe life back into our sport facilities. Let us not surrender to the forces that seek to diminish our community's spirit. Instead, let us rise united and restore the beacon of hope and opportunity that sports once represented for our children.
Sincerely,
Once a person that enjoyed watching youth sports.
Name withheld at author’s request.
