The Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Owen Darrell, has said it is not the responsibility of the Government to assist in the televising of Cup Match.

Darrell was speaking at Wellington Oval yesterday, when David Burt, the Premier, handed over a cheque for $50,000 to St George’s Cricket Club with the funds earmarked for the Annual Classic.

“I remember growing up as a young man who used to sit right there during Cup Match,’’ Darrell said.

“I had to come to the game because it was not televised, so you either came to the game or you listened to radio.

“In recent years, Bermudians have become accustomed to it being televised, but like all economies today, there are different business proposals and individuals are not necessarily able to raise the sponsorship to broadcast, as has been in the past.

“Unfortunately, the Government is unable to underwrite that cost. Cup Match is a production that is put on by the clubs, and the Government sponsorship is more to the safety and overall enjoyment of Bermudians and the public at the game, and not necessarily focused on televising.”

The $50,000 donation is $25,000 less than the Government has provided in recent years, but Darrell said on top of this year’s figure, the Government has covered the cost of a comprehensive assessment of the temporary stands to make certain that the structure is free of defects.

“On top of that grant, we also paid for a in-depth engineer’s report on all the scaffolding, because we realise that the safety of the patrons and the public in general is very important,” Darrell said.

“So an additional funding has been granted to the engineer directly. We are sure and confident that all the scaffolding and the spots that you see around the ground are structurally sound for the two days of Cup Match.”

David Burt, the Premier, was the only Member of Parliament on hand wearing Somerset colours, was keen to emphasise the legacy of Cup Match.

“As the Cup Match holiday draws closer, it is my pleasure to to reaffirm Government’s commitment to supporting this cherished part of Bermuda’s heritage,’’ Burt said.

“In the coming days, we will come together as one community, to celebrate our history, commemorate the emancipation of our ancestors from slavery on Emancipation Day and enjoy the joyful atmosphere that only Cup Match can bring.

“The annual Cup Match is testimony to the strength of our community, the richness of our culture, and the pride we take in our history and historic figures, such as Mary Prince, who through her first hand accounts of slavery in Bermuda ensured the world understood the truth, and made an immense contribution to the abolition movement.

“We proudly honour her on the second day of Cup Match, renamed by this PLP government to Mary Prince Day. Each year, on Mary Prince Day and Emancipation Day, we stand on the shoulders of Black lodges and Friendly Societies, who united to organise this very cricket match, to commemorate the ending of slavery in Bermuda.

“It is a legacy that we must continue to honour, protect, and preserve for generations to come, just as the Government will continue to support, for years to come.

St George’s president Neil Paynter said the funds given to the club was crucial to the smooth running of Cup Match.

“We would like to extend our thank you to the Government of Bermuda for this great donation,’’ Paynter said.

“This donation will go a long way to ensure that the safety of Cup Match is held to a high standard, and that everyone enjoys the match. With these funds, we will ensure that the people’s money is put in the right place to ensure that we have a great time.”