ON a day when the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) had its office burglarised, there was a ray of light amidst the gloom as the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) donated a 2010 Toyota Coaster bus valued at $6 million to the Sunshine Girls yesterday.

JNA president Marva Bernard could not contain her delight at the brand new 28-seater vehicle which was unveiled at the team’s residence on Widcombe Road in Barbican, Kingston.

Said Bernard: “This is the dream of every Jamaican, to own their own home, have a family and a vehicle. We have our family — the Sunshine Girls — the netball family by extension. We have our home, but we just didn’t have enough transportation to take our family where they needed to go.”

She added: “Really, this is a dream come true this morning and… everybody in the JPS who heard and believed in the vision, we’re now a Jamaican family in that we need to produce the things we can produce.”

Bernard later told the Observer that the JNA office at Independence Park was broken into.

“This morning thieves broke into our office at the National Arena. I don’t know what they’ve stolen yet because I haven’t got a report because I couldn’t be there…we’re soldiers and soldiering on,” said Bernard.

Meanwhile Damian Obiglio, president and chief executive officer of JPS, said his organisation had been involved in netball for a long time and saw it fit to help.

“When many persons think of JPS, they think of electricity. However, along with being the provider of power supply to the island, JPS is committed to playing our part in growing the island’s economy and enhancing the lives of Jamaicans.

“Our relationship with the JNA has been a huge success and we will continue to find new ways to expand the partnership and extend our support with this organisation. Today’s venture is a true example of that commitment,” he said.

“Franklyn D Roosevelt, the former US president, stated that ‘we cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future. At JPS we’ll continue to forge partnerships and embark on ventures that assist and nurture our nation’s youth,” Obiglio added.

The bus, which is painted in blue and yellow with a montage of netballers, also has sizeable JPS logos on each side.

Only in January, the JNA got a big boost when the government donated a dwelling dubbed “Sunshine Chalet”, or “Netball House”, which is used to accommodate players from the various national programmes during training camps, seminars and meetings.

Maria Jones, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, spoke on behalf of Minister Olivia Grange, who is overseas.

Said Jones: “This signals a very important development in the Jamaica Netball Association and the Jamaica Public Service company.

“What is being announced today is the crucial part of a sustained drive to take the netball girls to their destination to be number one in the world,” said Jones.