KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, is calling on the country’s young people to emulate cricketer Stafanie Taylor and others who have come from humble beginnings to achieve great success.

She noted that Taylor, who grew up in modest circumstances in Spanish Town, St Catherine, was able to rise above her challenges to become captain of the West Indies women’s cricket team and is consistently ranked as a top performer by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“You don’t have to be involved in negative things. You can use your creative energy and channel it into positive things. She (Stafanie) came out of the bowels of the inner city, where opportunities were not a lot,” Grange pointed out.

She was speaking yesterday at the ground-breaking ceremony for construction of the Stafanie Taylor Oval and unveiling of a sign in honour of the cricketer at the Eltham High School in Spanish Town, which she attended.

Grange expressed the hope that the “fantastic facility”, will produce many more sporting talent such as Taylor, whom she described as a role model and “shining example of how young people can excel”.

The minister said the project is historic, as it will be the first time that a cricket ground in Jamaica will be named in honour of a female player.

“This development will serve to elevate the image of women’s cricket, not only in Jamaica, but the West Indies,” Grange said.

Meanwhile, Taylor said her desire is to inspire young people and girls in particular, to “never give up on their dreams”.

She said she is proud and honoured at the recognition from her former school and country, noting that she did not expect it.

“To think that a girl like me from the inner city would have made such impact… that it would be recognised by my country, is beyond anything I would have expected,” she said.

Taylor, who was recently conferred with the Order of Distinction, has represented the West Indies women’s cricket team more than 80 times since her debut in 2008 at the age of 17.

The oval, one of the Jamaica 55 Legacy Projects, is being constructed by the Sports Development Foundation, in partnership with the Sports Ministry.