Philipsburg: --- NAGICO Insurances on Thursday launched the Leeward Islands Cricket Association one-day tournament. NAGICO has been sponsoring this tournament for the past seven years and has committed itself to continue sponsoring it despite the economic hardships confirmed Chief Executive Officer Imran Macsood Amjad. Amjad told reporters that despite the hardships and the economic backlash investors and businesses on St. Maarten cannot give up instead this is the time for everyone to get on board in trying to keep youths off the streets of St. Maarten. Another objective Amjad said is to make sure youths on St. Maarten get involved in the sports that can take them to greater heights. Amjad said no one should allow economics to decide what should happen to any society since they all have to continue to develop the youths. He said youths have to be developed in a positive direction, which is to keep them off the streets and fight the effects of drugs and unemployment which can negatively influence any society. He felt that this is the time people especially businesses have to invest more in the youths especially sporting activities. The CEO of Nagico said they rest committed to continue sponsoring cricket and other sporting activities throughout the region.
Amjad said that already the company has been donating to sports, education, and other social activities; however, they are honored to be able to host the LICA (Nagico) one-day finals on St. Maarten. The company CEO presented a check of EC100, 000.00 to the president of LICA Gregory Shillingford.
The St. Maarten Cricket Association would be the host for this year LICA one day tournament. The St. Maarten Cricket Association has also revamped its board and has installed several committees who would target youths in all schools so they can become active cricket players. Amjad who is also the Chairman of the St. Maarten Cricket Association said there were concerns as to where cricket was going on St. Maarten. He said that because of constant pressure from the community he returned as chairman of the association, which has been restructured and they believe would benefit the future of the sport and well as the island. Presently the association has an executive board as well as general board and several committees to enhance the sport.
The LICA tournament is set to kick off on October 12 and will culminate on October 18.
St. Kitts, Anguilla and St. Maarten are the venues for the this year’s zone A and B preliminary matches. The semi finals and finals will be held on St. Maarten on October 16 and 17 at the Carib Lumber Ball Park.
The competing teams are assigned in two groups, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, and the BVI make up Zone A while Zone B teams are Anguilla, Antigua, St. Maarten and USVI with the defending championship is Antigua.