DISCOVERY BAY, St Ann — Jamaica Cricket Association President Lyndel Wright has congratulated Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners on its programme for cricket and netball development in St Ann.

The programme, which is exercised through the Mini or Little League concept, stages a three-week sports training camp each year for 300 youngsters aged 9-14 years, at Noranda Sports Club in Discovery Bay, and St D’Acre Community Centre in Alexandria.

Wright was addressing the campers and their 45 coaches and team leaders at a presentation ceremony held at Noranda last month.

“The fact that you are learning to play cricket and netball at an early age is impressive,” he told the youngsters, “but I am equally impressed with the discipline and character-building aspects that have been built into the programme.”

Wright, supported by Phillip Service, territorial development officer for the West Indies Cricket Board, said that the young cricketers represented a great future for Jamaica’s cricket as they were being provided with the tools to develop the game at an early age.

“With cricket having such a bright future in this part of the country,” he said, “I am encouraged to help the association develop plans to stage national games at Noranda and on the north coast, similar to the pattern that is now developing among venues in St Elizabeth.”