City Council sponsors youth basketball camp
While many Belize City residents are on the move this weekend, there is plenty going on right here in the old capital. News Five’s Marion Ali reports on one programme for kids now underway at the Bird’s Isle.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Today over twenty youths decided to face off in Belize City … on the basketball court. Their game was part of a two-week long basketball tournament called the Rose Classic that the Belize City Council and Belizean American, Cleon Hyde, are conducting. According to Belize City Mayor, Zenaida Moya, it’s all part of their initiative to help youths channel their energy in a positive direction.
Zenaida Moya, Belize City Mayor
“The City Council feel that it has to continue doing its part to try and ensure that our kids are not idle around the place. As what we see now, it’s not only older men picking up guns, it’s the young kids also, thirteen year olds that are picking up guns, and so this is part of our effort to try and ensure that more of our kids are engaged in productive activities.”
For Saint Michael’s student and participant, Melbourne Wade, the event not only allows him to meet new friends, but he believes it will also keep him out of trouble.
Melbourne Wade, Participant
“Dis da noh all bout basketball, deh teach yoh different basics, like got respect fi people and come as a family and play ball together and they teach yo lotta things. I think deh shoulda continue do this fi the young youths because ih keep deh off a di street, fi mek deh no go shoot or rob nobody and things like that.”
Marion Ali
“So when you get vex pan di court with somebody. Maybe somebody foul yoh too hard, weh you do?”
Melbourne Wade
“Just get up and shake deh hand or play harder, yeah.”
Marion Ali
“That dah weh the discipline do right?”
Melbourne Wade
“Yes Ma’’am and if the ref noh give yoh di call well just continue play di ball and then you talk it over off a di court. Yoh noh holler pan di court or cuss or use obscene language. Got nuff respect pan di court.”
Respect on and off the court is exactly what Cleon Hyde wanted to instill in Belizean youths when he came up with the idea of the tournament. Currently living in New York, for the past two years Hyde has been taking two weeks off to conduct the event.
Cleon Hyde, Sponsor, Youth Basketball Tournament
“We didn’t ask for teams from specific neighbourhoods. We just asked for the kids and that way you might have a child that live in Port Loyola and another one that might live in King’s Park and we get them to gel. They get to mesh, they talk to each other and it goes beyond just basketball and the two weeks here. For example they might see each other on the street and they could develop a friendship and that’s my main idea.”
But Hyde says his vision for the future encompasses much more than the ninety or so kids the event attracts.
Cleon Hyde
“I want to get a pipeline going in Belize that will allow maybe two kids per year to get them a scholarship to the United States for school. I think that would be great. That’s my goal.”
Meanwhile Moya emphasises that this is only one part of a larger initiative.
Zenaida Moya
“All year round we have our basketball, we have our football, we have our track and field trainings, games, sporting events. We continue with our street games in all the different divisions, so all these youths have the opportunity to go out there and also participate. We have our after school programme that will continue. That incorporates not only sporting though, but the spiritual, the discipline and the educational and literacy components.”
Hyde also provides the uniforms and footwear for the youths. During today’s friendly competition, Mayor Moya handed over a cheque for two thousand five hundred dollars to Hyde to help with the expenses. Marion Ali for News Five,
Youths interested in taking part in any of the City Council’s programmes can enroll at its office at the Commercial Centre. Mayor Moya says the business community can also help by informing them whenever they have job opportunities for young people.
