A GOVERNMENT body has stepped in to support community projects targeting the youth, after the plug was pulled on funding by another ministry.
General Organisation for Youth and Sport (Goys) president Hisham Al Jowder told the Southern Municipal Council yesterday that his organisation was willing to foot the bill for such initiatives.
It comes after the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry was ordered to stop funding such projects six months ago, after the Financial Audit Bureau’s 2011 report said it was committing administrative and financial violations by paying for programmes that didn’t have any municipal significance.
The minister, Dr Juma Al Ka’abi told councillors to look elsewhere for funding, but they claimed there had been a lack of co-operation.
However, Mr Al Jowder attended an extraordinary meeting of the Southern Municipal Council yesterday to pledge Goys’ support for initiatives that promote youth and sports development.
It is understood the offer will be extended to Bahrain’s four other councils.
“We will purchase nets, balls, whistles, cups and plaques and even present awards to winners besides providing sport equipment if asked – and we don’t want payment or anything back after the event,” he said.
“Councils are an important link for us with the community and through them we can reach our goals faster.
“We are keen to provide all support necessary for any youth and sports event planned.
“We are already co-operating with the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry to set-up events at plots where the deeds are registered under them and are currently working to get some of those transferred to us for full responsibility.
“As everyone knows, we don’t have empty plots now available with Goys.
“Whenever we get them, they will immediately be given to the area’s youth centre or club for its events or even for investment.”
However, he said councillors’ demands for investors to be given land to develop such facilities were not possible at present.
“We have no right as government bodies to lease lands and, as stated, there are no plots available,” he said.
He added that MPs were pushing to increase Goys’ annual budget from BD10m to BD17m to support clubs, youth centres and develop sports.
“There are many projects and activities that need funding and hopefully this will allow us to work faster in achieving our goals,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Al Jowder pledged to look into complaints that Goys had “stolen” a sports pitch in Askar and turned it into a private stadium.
“I didn’t know that the pitch had been allocated due to (area councillor) Nasser Al Mansouri’s efforts,” he said.
“I thought the pitch was ideal for a model, mini-stadium so I ordered it to be listed as a strategic project.
“It now has natural grass and is supervised by a special company that only allows it to be used six hours a week – and only for major tournaments, like training during the Gulf Cup in January.
“But I don’t see any problem discussing the matter with residents to come up with ideas on usage or having another pitch built nearby.”
Council chairman Mohsin Al Bakri said maintenance costing BD18,465 would take place on empty land in the Southern Governorate to allow sporting and youth-related activities to take place.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh