GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONS MASSACRE INDOOR SPORTING FACILITY

The Government of Dominica has reached another milestone in its quest to rebuild a modern and resilient country sector by sector with the official opening of the Massacre Indoor Sporting Facility.

The facility officially opened with a ceremony on Sunday, August 8, 2022, followed by a celebratory basketball game between home team Massacre Blazers and the Paix Bouche Eagles.

Member of Parliament for the Mahaut Constituency, the Hon. Rayburn Blackmoore says the facility is the reward of many years of hard work as this has been a dream of the massacres for many years and says he is proud to be delivering on that promise be able.

“So who would have thought that Massacre would be the first community in Dominica to have such an indoor facility of such splendor. We are proud to be here and what we have been able to achieve with the opening of this beautiful facility. Brothers and sisters, this dream of having a facility in Massacre has been a very long one. It has been a dream of the young people of Massacre and your humble servant, your MP, over the years,” the Hon. explained Blackmoore.

Hon. Blackmoore stated that this new facility is a testament to the Labor Party Administration’s continued commitment to the development of sport in Dominica.

“The opening of this indoor facility here at Massacre is a manifestation of your government’s deep commitment to investing in communities and mobilizing their people for higher goals and higher callings in life. Today’s opening is therefore a testament to our long-standing belief that investing in arts and sports can help transform our nation, build character and teamwork, improve our health and well-being, and foster a deeper sense of community and nation, and ultimately to build a better man,” the Hon. Blackmoore noted.

The Massacre MP added that investing in sport is also investing in the country’s athletes and pledged to continue working on building sporting infrastructure in the constituency.

“But our investment in sport is also aimed at building the skills and talents of our youth so they can become world-class athletes who can find their true passion on the global sports fields and arenas, leading them to pursue careers in different Sports build disciplines. As your humble servant, as your MP, I promise to work with your government for the remainder of the legislature to focus on upgrading the sporting infrastructure for the constituency,” the MP added.

Secretary of Sports, Culture and Community Development, Hon. Roselyn Paul says the opening of this facility has transformed the sports landscape in Dominica.

“Today is a very special day in the sporting landscape of Dominica and for the community of Massacre and the surrounding area. Our sports landscape will not be the same after today and the community of Massacre has changed. With this ceremonial start-up we are making history. For the first time ever in this country’s existence, and I’m talking before independence, we are providing our athletes with an all-weather facility,” said the Hon. Paul noted.

The Hon. Paul noted that over the years the Government has heard the calls from athletes and sports organizers and this facility is a response to those calls to ensure the continuity of sport and the safety of athletes during inclement weather.

“For years we have heard the screams of athletes playing basketball, netball and volleyball. The difficulties they faced when they had to compete on surfaces that posed hazards to them as they were affected by wet weather conditions. We heard the screams of organizers who had to cancel events due to rain. There were also those who requested a facility to be used after dark. Our government has responded and invested heavily in the development of the sport. And today we are here to answer and offer those calls that go back to our pre-independence days,” noted Minister Paul.

Acting Prime Minister, Hon Reginald Austrie says this is another concrete example of the government’s investment in sport.

“This Labor Party Administration will continue to invest in our athletes to create the right conditions for them to hone their craft and excel at international level. The opening of this facility here in Massacre is another tangible sign of our investment in the sport,” he said.

Hon. Austria noted that the government recognizes the need to ensure local athletes have the necessary environment for their development.

Hon. Austria further explained that this indoor sports facility is a physical manifestation of the government’s commitment to the country’s youth and creating opportunities for the young people to discover their higher purpose in life.

“We are aware that investments in sport can result in a wide range of opportunities for a country and its people. Improved facilities can open up opportunities for economic development and create opportunities to maximize potential, particularly through the tourism sector. This Massacre facility is a bold manifestation of the Labor Party Administration’s commitment to improving the opportunities and means available to young people to realize their highest potential in professional sport,” added the Hon. Austria.

Founder and developer of Basketball at Massacre, Mr. Edgar Robinson thanked the government for building this facility. He encouraged the residents of Massacre and the Mahaut constituency at large to take advantage of this great investment.

Arrangements have been made for you. Once we have an organized group, no matter who you are or where you are from, come in there, stay neat and clean and follow the rules, you are welcome. Thank you again and I hope this facility will continue to be meaningful to all of us. Thank you to the Government of Dominica,” added Mr. Robinson.

The 11,000-square-foot facility will be a 24-hour athletic facility, featuring basketball, netball and volleyball.