Date: February 20, 2004
Contact: Angela Johnson
Phone: 340-773-6449
angelaborchert@yahoo.com
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR VARGRAVE RICHARDS PROMOTES
VI AYSO'S EFFORTS TO DEVELOP ST. CROIX SOCCER CENTER
Lieutenant Governor Vargrave Richards generated a license agreement
which gives the Virgin Islands American Youth Soccer Organization (VI
AYSO) the right of way to develop a soccer center on St. Croix.
"This is a wonderful example of public-private cooperation for
the benefit of our youth," Richards said. "Several government
agencies came together in a cooperative effort to support VI AYSO in
its effort to develop and maintain a soccer complex that will also be
available for use by our public schools and eventually crowds of spectators
for VI AYSO's soccer tournaments. This is absolutely a win-win situation
for the island of St. Croix."
As one means of stimulating the St. Croix economy, the Lieutenant Governor
arranged for the Department of Education to license a five-acre parcel
of land at Alfredo Andrews Elementary School to VI AYSO in return for
VI AYSO financing the design, development and construction of a soccer
center on the site. Lieutenant Governor Richards commends VIAYSO leaders
and officials in the Departments of Education, Property and Procurement
and Justice for orchestrating a viable agreement. The facility will
be available for use by VI AYSO, as well as Alfredo Andrews Elementary
and John H. Woodson Junior High Schools.
"We are very grateful to the Lieutenant Governor for helping us
move this forward," said Tracy Bingham, regional commissioner for
the Virgin Islands AYSO. "We are going to make the community proud
of what we do."
Lieutenant Governor Richards encourages residents to support VI AYSO's
"Field of Dreams" fund raiser by attending the VI AYSO Benefit
Golf Tournament this Sunday, February 22, at Carambola Golf Course.
A Parade of Players will begin at 11:45 a.m. followed promptly by the
start of the golf tournament.
The Virgin Islands AYSO is a non-profit organization that promotes
healthy competition among children and coaches of diverse backgrounds
brought together by the love of the sport.
