McKenzie: SDC 20/20 breaking down barriers.

MINISTER OF Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie said the Social Development Commission’s (SDC) National 20/20 Community Cricket competition is helping to foster a better relationship between communities.

Speaking at yesterday’s official launch of this year’s competition at the SDC’s office in Kingston, McKenzie said, it plays a vital role in the development of the country’s youth.

“It is going well because I think that the SDC has done better this year in terms of its organisation, and they have attracted a larger constituency of participants, and I think it augurs well for the community programme of the SDC,” said McKenzie, while lauding the sponsors for their support.

“I think it is something that we have to support ... in order for us to have the kind of impact at the community level that we want,” McKenzie added.

“What I am expecting is ... it will bring communities together, and it will help to break down barriers in many communities where there is divisiveness,” he said.

Danielle Harrison-Drysdale, senior communication executive of Lasco financial, said that her company is committed to helping with sports and community development.

“The most important thing for us is that the SDC has a well-oiled machinery that goes into the communities, and one thing our chairman and managing director supports is community development, and we feel that the 20/20 cricket competition is something that really embodies that,” Harrison-Drysdale said. “Last year was really big and it was really good.

TOGETHERNESS

I loved how the communities came out and supported their teams, and so for me, it is something that I am looking forward to, and I think it is going to be even bigger this year.”

The competition began in April and will see the winners taking home $1.2 million while the second-place team will collect $600,000. Third will pocket $300,000. At yesterday’s function, Lasco Money and Lasco Distributors handed over cheques amounting to $4.5 million, and the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica handed over their sponsorship of $3 million.