Former Sports Minister Mr. Patrick Simmons has congratulated the members of the Windward Islands Under-15 Cricket team on their recent performance in the West Indies tournament in Jamaica.

Mr. Simmons, who was the Minister responsible for Sports and Youth Empowerment from 2008 to 2013, said that the players continue to shine a bright light in the development of cricket in the Windward Islands.

“It was good to see that Grenada led from the front and despite the team not winning the championship the players were outstanding,” he said.

“As a parent and one who competed and now have children who are also competing I know the sacrifices which these players have to make in order to achieve their goals.”

As a former government minister and in which the record will show I want to offer congratulations to the growing list of these young talented individuals.

They include Richie Hughes and the tennis players who represented Grenada at regional tournaments over the past few weeks; the national under-23 netball team which finished third at the OECS tournament; Anderson Peters who reached the final of the javelin at the World Youth Championships; the Under-20 women’s football team which advanced to the CFU final round; and the boys and girls who are representing Grenada at the Windward Islands Schools’ Games in St. Vincent.

Let me also extend best wishes to the swimmers who are representing Grenada at the world championships in Spain and the track and field athletes who are preparing for the world championships in Russia.

Simmons added: “I want to appeal to the government to see the wisdom in the continued implementation of the national sports policy which was legislated under the National Democratic Congress government.”

“The national policy provides the impetus for the completion of a number of sporting projects including the lighting of playing fields,” said the former minister.