263 Teams Take Part in SDC Community Cricket Competition

A total of 263 teams from communities across the island are competing for $6 million in cash and prizes in the 11th staging of the Social Development Commission (SDC) National 20/20 Community Cricket Competition.

The tournament, which began on April 30 with the preliminary rounds, will see teams over the next four months compete at the parish and regional levels, with the final two teams vying for top honours in August in St. Ann.

Speaking at the official launch, held on June 22 at the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, in Kingston, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said the competition can unearth talented individuals who may go on to represent the country at the regional level.

“This can be a stepping stone to develop the kind of talent that is required to save West Indies Cricket,” he said, urging the participants to make use of the opportunity.

He lauded the SDC for undertaking the initiative, adding that the annual cricket competition is geared towards advancing community development through sports.

Mr. McKenzie commended the sponsors for investing in the competition, which he said will assist in helping to build true community spirit at all levels. “Private sector involvement in community activities is very important,” he said.

Providing an overview of the competition, Executive Director, SDC, Dr. Dwayne Vernon, said the national champion will earn $1.2 million.

“It is about camaraderie, it is about identifying talent that is there, so they can also benefit in terms of their own economic activities, because the cricket does generate a lot of economic activity at each venue. So, you have economic value, you have social value, and, more importantly, the peace that it maintains,” he said.

Team players, on reaching the semi-final stage of the competition, are required to work to develop a community project that will be financed by a minimum of 15 per cent of winnings from the competition.

“Everybody who wins, at whichever stage, has to give back 15 per cent to the community in a project, but that money is retained by the SDC and paid directly to the project to ensure that it is done, and the teams are required to complete the project before they get their earnings,” he said.

Some of the sponsors include Lasco MoneyGram, Lasco Distributors, National Integrity Action, Food For The Poor, Road Safety Unit, Jamaica Cricket Association, Housing Agency of Jamaica Limited, Nutrimix and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).