THE EDITOR, Sir:

Every Sunday afternoon over the past couple of months, the citizens of Hopewell and its environs have gathered on Orchard Playing Field to watch football matches.

In addition to the lively crowds watching the main event, at these games women practise netball on a side court, children play basketball and vendors sell a wide variety of goods.

This may seem like the scene at an average Jamaican football match, but for Hopewell the absence of a functioning football league for two years meant that citizens rarely had the opportunity to attend this kind of event within their own community.

The rebuilding and revitalisation of the Hopewell Corner League is largely due to the efforts of Councillor Devon Brown of the Hopewell Division in Eastern Hanover.

I cannot commend Mr Brown enough for his exceptional commitment to his constituents and building their community spirit through sports.

Sports play an important role in the social and physical development of young people, instilling discipline, encouraging teamwork and fostering healthy lifestyles. As we saw on the international stage last month, and Mr Brown and I continue to see every Sunday afternoon, sports transcend the mundane and can be a unifying force for communities.

Kudos to Devon Brown for his organisation and sponsorship of the Hopewell Corner League and congratulations to Macquarie, who won the championship this past week, as well as to all the other teams who participated.

PAULA KERR-JARRETT

JLP Caretaker, Eastern

Hanover