Use boxing to release anger, says Sutherland

Boxing is a way to solve some of the challenges related to deviancy in Barbados, says Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Dwight Sutherland.

Speaking Monday afternoon at the Grantley Adams International Airport to see off a team of young wrestlers for international competition, Sutherland said that boxing as a sport could be used as an avenue for young people in the society to take out their anger.

“I often refer to Anthony Joshua who is a UK boxer, a European boxer, a world class boxer who had challenges with deviance and he was able to use boxing to curb that deviant behaviour and to become world class and to become the world’s number one boxer.

“So, for me boxing is fundamental if we are to address some of the deviant behaviour within the schools especially. And to give these young men the alternative view which is the right way of taking out their anger in a sport.

“More importantly this sport can give you an opportunity to earn a living and to become world class. That is our mission and mandate as a government, so boxing has a fundamental role to play,” Sutherland said.

The Minister believes that the more than 60, 000 young people in Barbados should be enrolled in some type of sporting activity.

“We have about 60, 000 young people in this country and I believe that four out of five living young people should be enrolled in some sporting, developmental activity or some youth group. That is the only way we would begin to solve some of our challenges and we have to bring back community sports, which is the next thing I will be focusing on,” Sutherland added.

There is currently no Barbadian boxing trainer for schools attached to the National Sports Council.

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb