Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, the Honourable Charles Griffith, in deep thought while playing a game of draughts.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment has received a very good response to its ‘Draughts on De Hill’ initiative at Farley Hill, St Peter.

That exhibition by several persons including Barbadian champions Ronald “Suking King” and Jack Francis was aimed at sensitising Barbadians to get involved in draughts and attract new entrants into the sporting discipline.

The initiative which was piloted by Sports Development Officer Stephen Rowe in collaboration with the Barbados Draughts Association, was one of the popular attractions at the “We Gathering, St Peter” event on Sunday, February 16th at the Farley Hill National Park.

Rowe confirmed that several of the juniors involved in draughts in Barbados participated in the exhibition games. Pointing to notable players Rawle “Schoolboy “Williams, Junior “Post” Walrond, Michael Barker, Carson Farley and Kent Haynes, all former champions in the sport, Mr. Rowe stated: “We had a full tent… we had lots of players coming out and lots of juniors”.

The Sports Development Officer recalled that “draughts was very popular throughout Barbados being played in all the shops and communities across the island [noting that] efforts were on to get [the sport] back to its glory days, whilst bringing in fresh blood.”

He disclosed that the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment will be involved in other sporting disciplines as ‘We Gatherin’ picks up pace this year. Upcoming Ministry activities include a cricket tournament in June, beach football on a monthly basis, the Barbados Road Tennis Open and the Prime Minister’s Cup.

‘Draughts On De Hill’ was hosted by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment in partnership with the Barbados Draughts Association.