Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning, Buenas dias, Bon Dia and Boh-n djih-ah
I am pleased to join and address you this morning for the opening of the 36th Little League Latin America and Caribbean regional congress.
Having played in the first official little league competition on Sint Maarten in 1978 and having represented Sint Maarten on the selection during the Latin American and Caribean games in that year, I have many wonderfull memories of little league baseball. As a result it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the first Little League congress to be held on Sint Maarten. To all our overseas guests from some 16 countries, I extend a special welcome and in particular to Regional Director Mr. Carlos Pagan. We are pleased that you, thanks to the endeavours of our District Administrator Mrs. Elmora Avonturin-Pantophlet and the Sint Maarten Little League Association, have chosen Sint Maarten as the venue and are honoured to host this Regional Congress. You could not have chosen a better place for your congress and I therefore invite all of you to take time after your meetings to enjoy the warm hospitality and attractions of our friendly island.
But before you do so I see from your agenda that you have quite some issues to address: namely issues ranging from planning for future tournaments and tournaments sites to discussions regarding rule changes. In that regard I believe that it is important to highlight the relevance of your work and to encourage you to continue to do so.
The work you do at this congress is important work as it sets the framework for the national little league associations to formulate their plans and programs for our young boys and girls across our region. This is important because it offers our children a positive activity to engage in and something to aspire and work towards. That is: participation in the national team at the Latin America and Caribbean Little League Championship and the dream of playing in the Little League world series in Williamsport, USA.
Offering such perspectives is important in the lives of our youth. Because playing baseball in the Little League setting strengthens the abilities of boys and girls to focus, teaches them the value of preparation and importance of discipline to be success full. Focus, preparation and discipline all key aspects which are indispensable in boys and girls educational performance. As such your word helps build the foundation of our youth by contributing to forming and preparing them for the challenges they will face in their education now and lives and careers as adults. The added value of your work is best reflected in the three words of the Little League motto: Courage, Character and Loyalty. Boys and girls that are taught and who develop these key qualities are likely to become important assets for our countries and region. This is further strengthened when your work lead our youngster to buy into the little league’s pledge:
I trust in God
I love my country
And will respect its laws
I will play fair
And strive to win
But win or lose
I will always do my best.
In short your work plays an important role in preparing youngsters to become highly productive citizens.
It is against this background of the invaluable positive impact of your work that I encourage you to continue to dedicate your time and efforts in developing little league and with that our youngsters.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Delegates,
In closing, I wish you Mr. Pagan as chairman of this congress and all the delegates much wisdom and creativity in addressing the issues you have before you on your agenda. And at the same time I congratulate Mrs. Elmora Avonturin-Pantophlet and the Sint Maarten Little League Associaton President Mr. Ronal Jacobs with the organization of this little league congress on Sint Maarten.
With that I hereby wish you fruitful deliberations and hereby declare this Latin American and Caribbean Regional Congress officially open.
Thank you, Gracias.