Saturday, June 14, 2025
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
THE government has allocated $2.5 million under the National Endowment for Sports in the 2025/2026 budget, aimed at supporting federations, local sporting events, coaching certification, and long-term athlete development.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg announced the funding during his Budget Communication, noting that the endowment will include tiered annual grants ranging from $10,000 to $80,000, alongside merit-based special grants starting at 10 per cent.
He also confirmed a 40 per cent increase in funding to the National Sports Authority (NSA)– an additional $1 million to support the maintenance of key national sports facilities.
“For far too long, the facilities under the National Sports Authority have suffered from neglect,” Mr Bowleg said. “This government is changing that.”
The funding will allow the NSA to hire skilled personnel and maintain venues such as the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium, Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatic Centre, and Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium, among others.
He outlined a revamped National Sports Policy, which will use a four-tier system to classify sports by competitiveness, structure, and impact, creating clearer development pathways.
To expand sports development beyond New Providence and Grand Bahama, the government is launching a National Reach Initiative (NRI). Federations will be required to identify three Family Islands where their sport is underrepresented and begin grassroots programmes, including coaching clinics and local club formation.
The initiative is backed by a significant increase in the Sports Facilities Maintenance budget, supporting upgrades across the Family Islands, he said. In Grand Bahama, Mr Bowleg highlighted renewed efforts to develop an 88-acre sports complex gifted to the government in 2000 by the Grand Bahama Port Authority. After years of inaction, the conveyance has now been signed and development is underway.
Space for fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball fields will be included, while current activity at the site already includes flag football, soccer, and community events.
Work is also progressing on a world-class swimming complex in Grand Bahama. Preliminary architectural drawings are complete, the topographical study has been finalised, and geotechnical groundwork is underway.
“Once this report is in hand, we will move forward with inviting bids for the construction of the pool,” Mr Bowleg said.
Comments
Porcupine says...
******Gov’t allocates $2.5M to National Sports Endowment******
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg announced the funding during his Budget Communication. “For far too long, the facilities under the National Sports Authority have suffered from neglect,” Mr Bowleg said. “This government is changing that.”
Yes Mr. Bowleg, just like the National Sports Authority, The People of The Bahamas have also suffered from neglect. For years and years.
This government has allocated no money to stopping corruption, improving honest communication, or to provide the public with an inkling of transparency into government activity in this country. Does one have to wonder why?
While our oversized do-nothing ministers fly around the world on the taxpayers dime, they make a complete mockery of the Bahamian people.
For God's sake, we are a country of 340,000. A small-sized city anywhere else in the world. We are heavily in debt. A majority of our people are working poor. And, the world's economy looks very shaky. But, these geniuses are flying around the world. For what? What special knowledge, training or manners do any of these clowns have to impress the world?
Bahamian officials, including the PM should stay home and do the work they were elected to do. Ask yourself what has improved since the last election.
If like most Bahamians you can say nothing, why would we vote these people back in?
I get tired of watching these jokers continue to gain mounds of flesh, mounds of money and a pension on top of that, all for talking trash, lying and fleecing the people.
A sad situation that does not reflect well on the Bahamian people.
Posted 16 June 2025, 8:15 a.m. Suggest removal
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