Tampa Premier Cricket League to launch $60m grassroots initiative for primary schools

Primary schools across the island are set to benefit from a major cricket boost as the Tampa Premier Cricket League (TPCL), along with title sponsor Jamaica Produce Hub, a United States-based company, and Tropical Blue Spring Water, a Jamaica-based company, will commit to a $60-million grassroots initiative with the launch of a national under-12 cricket competition involving 120 primary and all-age schools.

The launch is set for today at the Old House Restaurant and Grill in Mandeville at 5 p.m.

Tournament organiser Delroy Bent will spearhead the initiative, which will create employment for more than 2,000 cricket officials, including coaches, umpires and scorers. The programme will also fund continued professional education for all officials, ensuring training and certification to the highest international standards.

“TPCL’s investment marks one of the largest private commitments to grassroots cricket development in the region. TPCL is committed to advancing cricket through professional commitment, youth education and community investment,” said Bent, CEO of TPCL and retired physical education teacher at Manchester High School.

At today’s launch, schools in two parishes – Manchester and St Elizabeth – will receive cricket equipment, while schools across the rest of the island are due to receive their equipment at a later date.

The schools from Manchester are Alligator Pond Primary, Ferguson Primary, Old England Primary, Bethabara Primary, Broadleaf Primary, Fairfield Primary, Hatfield Primary, Morningside Primary, Prospect Primary, Mayfield Primary and Rose Hall All-Age.

The schools from St Elizabeth are Bull Savannah Primary, Ballards Valley Primary, Goshen Primary and Brinkley Prim