Minister Boyce delighted at CARIFTA Games success

Minister of Health and Human Services, Hon. Dr. Lillian Boyce said she was delighted to have staged what many described as one of the most exciting CARIFTA Games in the history of the regional junior track and field meet.

Speaking with The SUN Newspaper shortly after the closing ceremony on Monday, a gleeful Hon. Boyce said she was particularly pleased with the successful staging of the Games, noting that she was extremely heartened by the wonderful comments made by attendees from across the Caribbean and the wider world, that the just-concluded CARIFTA Games was one of the best ever staged.

“I am so thankful that we have had a successful CARIFA Games. I am thankful for the opportunity to deliver one of the most successful Games in the Caribbean. And I have heard it from everyone so far that it was the most exciting game, well organized and properly ran,” Hon. Boyce said.

Hon. Boyce said the successful staging of the Games was as a result of hard work and dedication that those involved put into it. She said the successful staging of the Games was a follow-up on a promise on her part and by extension Government, who she said had always delivered on commitments.

Hon. Boyce was the Minister of Education Youth, Sports, Arts, Culture and Gender Affairs prior to the February 9 election. Following a selection of the Hon. Dr. Michael Misick cabinet Minister Boyce was given the Health Ministry, while Government Appointed Member, educator Dr. Carlton Mills was catapulted into that position. However, Hon. Boyce remained in charge of the CARIFTA Games.

Hon. Boyce has been credited largely for the construction of the Turks and Caicos Islands National Stadium, its record-breaking track and other facilities, as it was argued among some of the attendees at the Games that if it were not for her bidding to have the games hosted here, the facilities would not have been built with the alacrity which with it was pursued.

It was President of the Turks and Caicos Amateur Athletics Association (TCAAA) Rita Gardiner, who, on the instruction of Hon. Boyce bid for the 2007 Games to be held in the Turks and Caicos Islands during a congress in at the 2004 games in Hamilton, Bermuda. The stadium was constructed at a cost of $10million and is outfitted with a Mondo-brand track, high, long, triple jump and discus facilities.

Hon. Boyce said she was overly elated to have been able to, under her watch, provided one of the finest facilities for the people for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands and for the development of track and field in the country. She told The SUN that now that the CARIFTA Games meet was over, she could now concentrate on her new ministry of Health and Human Services.