Minister tells trio to be role models

ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC):

Sports Minister Justina Charles has urged three Dominican cricketers, including Test off-spinner Shane Shillingford, to serve as role models for the rest of the nation.

Charles, who is the wife of deceased Prime Minister Pierre Charles, made the comment at a ceremony to recognise the achievements of Shilligford, West Indies women's player Pearl Etienne and Under-19 star all-rounder Kavem Hodge.

"Dominica needs positive role models like you and I exhort you to take this responsibility seriously," Charles told the trio.

"Your selection on the West Indies team at any level is a dream for any cricketer and given the position that cricket holds in the psyche of our West Indian people, achievements such as yours are to be celebrated by a nation.

"This is why my Ministry is happy to be associated with this ceremony for it provides us with an opportunity to show gratitude to our athletes who have excelled in the field of sports."

Shillingford, who made his debut against South Africa earlier this year playing three Tests, was recently awarded a central retainer contract by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), while Etienne was recently named to the West Indies women's team for next week's ICC Women's Challenge in South Africa.

Hodge, who was an outstanding performer in the recently concluded WICB TCL Under-19 competition, has received a scholarship to attend the Darren Lehman Cricket Academy in Australia.