It was fun and fanfare at the Barbados Port Inc. (BPI) in April as an on-site road tennis court was unveiled in the car park of the Administration Building.

Following a prayer and short welcome, David Jean-Marie, Chief Executive Officer of the BPI, kicked off the festivities with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  “The BPI has a strong commitment to wellness in the workplace and we are proud to play our part in encouraging and creating a healthy environment for our staff and the wider community.  Road tennis originated in Barbados in the 1930s and the BPI is excited to see its revival and the growth in its international appeal. The sport embodies Bajan culture and we look forward to the participation of staff members and the residents of the surrounding districts in the many matches we will be hosting here at the BPI.”

The evening’s activities then continued with Jean-Marie demonstrating his road tennis talent and knocking the first ball. A fast and furious opening match featured two BPI members of staff, Deborah Simpson and Sheron Hartley. The ladies entertained the crowd, showcasing some deft moves and superb shots.

The second match of the evening welcomed two outstanding youngsters, Shakim Joseph, 11 years old, and 13 years old Stephen Carrington. The youngsters stepped on to the court to loud cheers from the crowd and their performance did not disappoint.

With everyone now on the edge of their seats, the feature match was announced. Top seed, Julian ‘Michael Jackson’ White playing against third seed, Adrian ‘Dan’ Skeete. The two men brought their best and spectators were on their feet, applauding and calling out support as the match progressed.

Jean-Marie hailed the event as a success and thanked BPI staff and visitors for attending.  Refreshments and karaoke brought the thrilling events to a close.