NATIONAL SAILING ACADEMY

Antigua St John's - The idea of expanding the National Sailing Academy at the Parham wharf is a great one, according to Minister of Agriculture, Housing, Environment and Fisheries Hilson Baptiste, and he is rallying in support of the cause.

The minister met with officials from the Academy sometime ago, and pledged his office's support for their efforts.

He said the services are beneficial since Antigua is an island and the waters around it are a great asset. The minister noted that such knowledge also increased the youths’ prospects of finding employment in the yachting industry at home and abroad.

Because of the project's involvement of fisheries and the coastline, Baptiste's office will play a critical role in the expansion process.

In a statement to the press recently, it was said that the national sailing programme, which provides scholarships to about 160 students every week at the Antigua Yacht Club, has reached its capacity, with many schools still intereste in sending more children.

The minister said the programme works with the young sailors in groups. He added, “The Parham Fisheries Wharf was identified as an ideal location to provide additional sailing lessons to students, particularly those in the surrounding villages."

Jolly Harbour Yacht Club, which provides sailing scholarships for students in the south of the island, was also in negotiations to expand its programme in the Jolly Harbour area.

Baptiste assured that his Ministry would send a team of technicians to assess the potential for the establishing of a satellite facility in Parham. However, he said the final written proposal for the expansion has not yet reached his desk.

As reported in Caribarena Antigua on Tuesday, April 12, 2011.