A Summer Camp for the Children of Port Loyola

Philip Willoughby

His presence in Port Loyola may be purely political, but today, as part of his ongoing campaign, Philip Willoughby hosted a summer camp in the Jane Usher and Cumberbatch Field communities.  The initiative, he says, will not only teach children basic skills in football and basketball but it will also give them an opportunity to prepare for back-to-school.  This morning, we caught up with Willoughby and a handful of kids at the basketball court in the Jane Usher Boulevard neighborhood.

Philip Willoughby, Summer Camp Organizer

“In campaigning in the area over the past month or so, we decided along with the community to one: do a wellness and fitness program that begins at 5:30 in the morning, so once you want to get up and come out and exercise, we have a trained professional coach that comes out here to work with the community.  Then we start with basketball and football at nine and then we go down to Cumberbatch Field for three o’clock to work with the community likewise and then we provide water, fruits and snacks for the kids in the summer program.  Tomorrow we get a treat, we go to the police auction and the kids who are in the camp, we’ll see if we can procure a bicycle for them in working with Assistant Commissioner Chester Williams and Commander Howell Gillett.  So we are working on that in terms of working with the community and trying to get the kids a bicycle, a back to school kind of thing.”

Isani Cayetano

“What has been the reception and response from the neighborhood, Jane Usher Boulevard?”

Philip Willoughby

“Extremely well.  It’s encouraging for the people that have that I have spoken with.  I believe we have re-inspired and re-invigorated our base.”