REPRESENTATIVE for Christ Church West Central Joe Edghill has accused Sports Minister Reginald Farley of neglect and other members of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) of trickery.

During his contribution to the Budget Debate in the House of Assembly yesterday, Edghill pleaded the cause of members of the Pride of Gall Hill Sports Club and youngsters in his constituency who were in desperate need of a playing area.

Edghill said he had asked Farley to look into the matter but "he has turned a blind eye".

He said the situation "irked" him and he was disappointed because he had been fooled by some of the people on his side, who assured him that the required land for the field had been paid for.

Noting that the land they previously used was bulldozed back in 1984 to provide housing, he said the community had been adversely affected since.

Edghill said the ministers of finance, housing and sports had a joint responsibility to youngsters in the area.

"It isn't anything that we, the people, or it isn't anything that I am begging for. It is owed to the people because they came and lick up de playing field.

"So therefore it is something which the Government owes us, the people in Gall Hill," said Edghill, adding that it was his intention to get the Prime Minister involved in the issue.

Edghill commended former principal of the Christ Church Foundation School, Major Hugh Barker, for allowing members of the club to use the school's playing field, but said access had not been as free in recent years.

He said several members of the netball team had lost interest in the game or joined other clubs, and a number of the girls were getting into mischief because they had no venue for their extra-curricular activities.

Listing the many teams from within the club who were involved in national competitions, he said the players had no outlet to improve their standard.

"Something has to be done as soon as possible, because the young people up dey don't intend to sit down and take the nonsense for too long," Edghill said.

He added he was hoping to have at least seven acres of land at the club's disposal. (YB)