THE recent impressive debut performance of local footballers, the Soca Warriors at World Cup Finals 2006 in Germany, has rubbed off on folks in every community across TnT!

And now residents from every nook and cranny of the country, especially those who over the years have been deprived of proper parks and playgrounds, are now demanding that their area representatives see that sporting facilities are either built or improved.

One such area making the call is depressed John John, Laventille, an area over the years has seen rising crime.

Shabba, spokesman for the community group, the John John Environment Development Committee, told TnT Mirror that for the past three years residents have been waiting to have their basketball court and playground near the St. Phillip’s Primary School to be refurbished.

According to Shabba, the condition of both facilities leave much to be desired.

“Too much issues! They putting contracts in the hands of the wrong people; contractor always changing and it always has bacchanal,” he explained.

He said the community had grown fed-up of the many excuses given to them by the relevant authorities as to why the various projects have stalled.

“We heard that because of corruption, it has no money to finish the project,” he continued.

“Then there is talk that people are afraid to work because of ongoing gang violence.”

Shabba said he was very concerned that the young people had nowhere to play.

“If they do, they have to play in the busy streets and that have consequences. You know how long they renovating the park, saying they’re putting bleachers?

“Instead of children playing, vagrants are utilising the space.

“Three years done, we still waiting.”

Pointing to the dilapidated ground next to the primary school, Shabba added that the swings and other equipment are either broken down or have disappeared.

“An idle hand is the devil’s workshop,” he warned.

“If we want to change the culture up here, we could start by fixing parks and playgrounds right here in John John.

SHABBA and students of St. Phillip’s Primary
School in the playground.

The garbage heap in the playground.

Material in playground.

The abandoned construction at the basketball
court.

“We could take them off the streets from an early age and put them somewhere to play.

“We could get them interested in sports in an organised manner,” he pleaded.

“Restart these projects but deal with the right people and maybe we could see some difference in the lives of the people on the hill.”