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By Samuel Peters
The Ministry of Sports has unveiled a comprehensive financial support initiative aimed at strengthening school sports programmes across the nation, marking a significant shift in how the government supports student-athletes and educational institutions.
In a groundbreaking move, the Ministry has introduced seed funding for public schools ranging from $8,000 to $20,000, with allocations determined by school enrollment size. This initiative addresses long-standing inequities between larger and smaller educational institutions in accessing sports funding.
The Ministry’s commitment to recognizing excellence was demonstrated through a comprehensive award ceremony distributing both seed funding and performance-based prize money to participating schools.
Several secondary schools received the various monetary allocations, including Clare Hall Secondary, Ottos Comprehensive, All Saints Secondary, Sir Novelle Richards Academy, Pares Secondary, Irene B. Williams Secondary, Jennings Secondary and St. Mary’s Secondary.
“It can’t be that we expect excellent performances from our athletes, our student athletes and the schools that support them without providing some sort of support,” explained Minister of Education, Sports and Creative Industries, Daryll Matthew.
The funding initiative recognizes that while some schools have traditionally secured corporate sponsorship and alumni support due to larger student bodies, smaller institutions have been inherently disadvantaged and unable to compete at the same level. The seed funding aims to level the playing field by providing baseline financial support for sports program development.
The Ministry has undergone significant administrative restructuring with the appointment of key personnel designed to strengthen the organizational foundation of school sports. The new leadership team includes a newly appointed Permanent Secretary along with Joel Rayne as Deputy Commissioner of Sports and Dr Colin Greene serving as Commissioner of Sports in Antigua and Barbuda.
These appointments represent what Ministry officials describe as “strengthening the administrative component of sports in Antigua and Barbuda” while maintaining confidence in existing technical expertise and coaching capabilities.
“We have no shortage of technical persons. We have no shortage of coaches,” Matthew noted, emphasizing that the focus on administrative enhancement complements rather than replaces existing sporting expertise.
The ceremony also recognized winners of the 2025 Interschool Track and Field competitions, in which they were provided their monetary prizes. The Princess Margaret School won both male and female competitions representing a continuation of their athletic dominance. The St. Joseph’s Academy and Antigua Grammar School placed second and third respectively in the male category.
The financial support initiative represents part of a broader strategic vision to create synergy between educational institutions and sports development. The Ministry emphasizes that its mandate focuses specifically on school-based sports development rather than all sporting activities in Antigua and Barbuda.
The program requires the recipients to demonstrate accountability in fund usage, with specific guidelines being developed for how the seed funding should be applied to advance sports programs effectively.
Additional infrastructure improvements are underway, particularly at Yasco sports complex where work continues on providing enhanced facilities and amenities for track and field activities, described as “the darling of sports” by Ministry officials.
While celebrating these initiatives, Ministry leadership acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly in coaching resources. With only eight coaches available to serve 10 schools, each supporting six teams, mathematical realities create staffing shortages that require creative solutions.
It is also calling for increased collaboration between physical education teachers and dedicated coaches to bridge this gap, emphasizing that “physical education can’t only be an academic exercise, it’s a physical activity as well.”
This comprehensive approach to school sports development signals what officials describe as being “at the cusp of a new day in sports here in Antigua and Barbuda,” combining financial support, administrative strengthening, and strategic partnerships to enhance opportunities for student-athletes across the nation.
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