Rose Classic International, an alternative to crime
Four years ago Belizean-American Cleon Hyde, while on vacation in the country decided on an initiative that would deter city youths on school break from crime and violence. He pitched an idea of hosting a basketball camp to the Belize City Council and soon after, the Rose Classic International was introduced to a team of young athletes. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has the story.
Since 2006 the annual gathering of players and enthusiasts has seen considerable growth, and with open arms has embraced youths from across the city. Sean Pascascio who has been with the program from its start sees basketball as an option to the negative influences in the streets.
Sean Pascascio, Participant
“ To me this da wah good thing weh dehn do because nuff man and man weh deh ya so heng out pan the street and ting. Fuh mek dehn haffu tek dehn affa di streets da sumting good, positive like fi keep dehn ya outta trouble because just this morning dehn had a lee shootout by round my areas deh. It’s a good ting I done mi deh ova ya cause if I mih deh ova deh I mussi mi gwein buy dah dih shop I coulda mih geh shot to so I just think this da wah good thing we dehn do and ting to mein.”
The Belize City Council, realizing the importance of sports, has been a sponsor of the Easter camp. This morning Mayor Zenaida Moya-Flowers handed over a donation of three thousand five hundred dollars to assist with the day to day expenses.
Zenaida Moya-Flowers, Belize City Mayor
“Every year we hand over a check of that amount because what Mr. Hyde does, Mr. Hyde has been able to deal with the jerseys, the t-shirts, even tennis shoes for some people but you know there’s a lot of cost that goes into running such a program. I mean you need to as well be dealing with facilities, you need to be able to deal with refreshments, you know, the officiating, people need to get a little stipend and so forth.”
For sixteen year old Devaughn Williams a student at Wesley College, the two-week camp gives him the opportunity not only to compete with the big boys but to also build lasting friendships.
Devaughn Williams
Devaughn Williams, Participant
“Basketball is really like my second sport. My sport is really track and field. I just start play because track and field only a certain time yo coh really do that and ting but basketball da wah all year ting so.”
Isani Cayetano
“What do you think about the competition that’s out here? I know I see a lot of pretty talented young men out here shooting hoops. Do you feel like measure up or do you feel like you could hang with the big boys?”
Devaughn Williams, Participant
“Yes I do feel like I could hang with the big boys because you can do anything if youput your mind to it.”
And, it’s that mantra that has been the driving force behind Cleon Hyde organizing such an activity.
Cleon Hyde, President, Rose Classic International
“When we started we had about sixty kids now we have gone to over a hundred and thirty. We have grown to the fact that where we had to expand and not we had to break it down into two different divisions. Now we also have a senior and a junior division. It’s free, the kids come, they have fun. I also provide them with full uniforms and some of the less fortunate kids we’re able to give them footwear and it‘s all under the Nike sponsorship along with the Belize City Council and various other companies in Belize that help us out.”
On hand to deliver a motivational pep talk was youth activist, Erwin X.
Erwin X, Youth Activist
“Although the sports great, although unu guys love basketball I want to encourage you to stay in school. I want to encourage you to pick up a book and read. Get pan the internet and research and elevate your mind and not only the skills. You know why? Jordan gone da school. All dehn ballers eena NBA had to gone through college in order fih dehn get deh.Yes or No?”
Following the words of encouragement it was game time as two teams took to the hardwood for a brief demonstration, and judging by their plays, Belize City does have talent on the floor. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
Belize need more organizations like this, the belizean kids need a” Big brother program” as well.
They need things to help stimulate your brain in a positive way.
Idle minds and lact of opportunities is like gasoline and matches. Its well established that poverty is the breathing ground for crime. The reality is that individuals who in the fore front of criminal activities are sending messages loud and clear. Of course we can condem for their crimes against society, but in the real life of action reaction, this is what we get from some of the disadvantage in our
society. Unfortunately government is cash strap, and many in the private that should come together and develop meaning full business that can create foreign exchange to boost the economy only do retail business.
What we hear is government do do this, and government don’t do that, and when government raise taxes to do that, then there is crying about cost of living to expensive. I can see that we are in for a rough times ahead if the idleness and lact of opportunities is not curtail soon, and very soon. In human nature it is that many individuals who spend much of their lives been idle find it hard to change even when opportunities present itself to make adjustment. I’ve observed that many Belizeans that was acustom to standing on the street in Belize, carry the same behavour when they went, particularly to Los Angeles.
The Minister for industry should be leading the charge to spear no stone unturn to attract businesses to Belize. Serious insentives should be considered and make available to encourage new investment to Belize especially in lite manufacturing for export. Unfortunately what we see are laws that discourage new investors from coming to Belize.
alternative to crime ,I do not know but great for belizean sport.Iam a basketball coach for 20 years and Iam very successful with children 9 -12 years old.You need to get to them when they are young,very young.Big up to Mr Hyde.
Start holding the parents responsible,what happens to family values?