MINISTER of Sports Olivia Grange has promised further support for the development of netball in the island.

Grange was speaking at Friday’s official handing over of the netball team house at Barbican, in the presence of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) president Marva Bernard, International Federation of Netball Associations president Molly Rhone and chairman of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), David Mais.

Said Grange: “This gesture by the government of Jamaica and by the Prime Minister is further proof that the government is standing behind and beside our netballers in their quest to be the number one team in the world at all levels.”

The minister also responded to Bernard’s long-time request for a team bus for the players.

“… You can rest assured that there is more to come. I did promise that I would walk hand in hand with the JNA. Well, I promise you… that I’ll help you catch the bus,” Grange quipped.

As minister with responsibility for land, Golding approved a 49-year lease of the government property to the JNA as a residence for training squads and coaches.

Bernard was recently quoted in this newspaper as saying that accommodation alone has cost the JNA approximately $6 million over the last five years.

Said Golding: “That (getting the house) to me is not the greater cause of celebration. The greater cause for celebration is the success that you have brought Jamaica. You have challenged the best in the world and demonstrated to them that you are among the best… and you have done that at great odds and against great challenges because we don’t have the resources that England and Australia and New Zealand have.”

He praised the spirit of the players and encouraged corporate entities to heed to the JNA’s cry for help despite the current economic hardships.

Bernard, while being thankful to both Golding and Grange for the “Sunshine Chalet”, also hailed the commendable effort of the JNA and the players.

The JNA head, who paid tribute to past presidents Rhone, Margaret Beckford, Barbara Buckley-Jones and Vilma McDonald, called on sponsors to help with refurbishing the property.

The JNA, aside from celebrating 50 years in 2009, made crucial breakthroughs when its senior team accomplished home Test draws versus top-ranked Australia and New Zealand, as well as a second-place finish in the World FastNet Netball series.

The Juniors were not to be outdone as they secured a gold medal in the Caribbean Under-16 Championship and a bronze medal in the Under-21 World Youth Championship.

Grange said she believed the house was just rewarded for the hard work put in by the national netballers over the years.