Additional funding for some of the Island’s cash-strapped sports organisations may soon be on the way.

That was the catch phrase from new Education, Sports and Recreation Minister Randy Horton after the former professional footballer and educator was re-appointed to the sport portfolio he was last responsible for four years ago at Government House yesterday.

Horton, who replaced Dale Butler as Sports Minister, listed additional funding for all local sport bodies and putting proper measures in place to ensure young Bermudians grow to “their full

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potential” as key objectives he hopes to see come to fruition during his second term in the Ministry.

“My priority is that every young person in this community has the opportunity to develop to their full potential. And I think, whether its education or sport, we need to build on the strengths of our people. And once we do that, then we march. And I’m looking forward to the march,” Horton told The Royal Gazette.

He added: “I think first of all we must re-emphasise the importance of sport here in Bermuda, and I also think it’s important to work with all of the organisations to ensure we have trained or knowledgeable people working with our young people.

“What we want to see is young people having good instruction and so certainly I’ll be looking at that, because I think this would lead to an improvement in the quality of life that we have in Bermuda.

“I want to see young people become productive citizens in our society and I think through education and sport we can provide the kinds of experiences young people need in order to grow and be productive citizens in our community.”

Horton also hopes to see more cash pumped into local sport.

“We want to see an increased investment in football and all sports because we think that all are important. But when we look at football, more kids in Bermuda play football than any other sport,” he added.

“But once I’ve sat down with all of the technical people and have looked at all the areas, only then will I give an indication as to what the Ministry’s real vision will be.”

Butler, meanwhile, said he was “disappointed” to have to part company with a Ministry he served diligently for the past three years.

“To be honest I’m very disappointed and disheartened because I had spent three years there and resolved a number of issues and enjoyed a lot of success,” he lamented.

“It was a difficult decision to leave. But the Premier (Ewart Brown) asked me to accept a brand new challenge that I reluctantly agreed because of my love for what I was doing.”

During his watch, Bermuda’s national cricket team qualified for the 2007 World Cup, the Island successfully hosted the 2004 Carifta Games and 2006 20/20 World Cricket Classic and Government agreed to pump $11 million into local cricket over a four-year period.

“I had an excellent team who were able to walk through the bureaucratic process and get things done,” Butler continued. “And I was determined to stay as long as I could because in the past Ministers saw this (portfolio) as a stepping stone to bigger Ministries, and I didn’t.

“I was determined to make this ‘the Ministry’ and I am very pleased to have a long list of accomplishments. And while it is difficult to walk away, I am also looking forward to the future which presents great hope.”

When asked what was his biggest achievement as Sports Minister, Butler replied: “The $11 million for cricket because that really shocked Bermudians. It sent a clear message that we were prepared to invest in our people.”