The executive is headed by Jimmy Ramnarayan who was elected president, with Ovid Stanford as vice-president, David Williams secretary, Shawn Herbert assistant secretary/treasurer and Warren King public relations officer, while Julian Da Silva heads the Disciplinary Committee.

“Giving Glory To Others” is the motto of the newly formed club, which is using the YMCA facilities while in its infancy stage.

The colours of the club are red, representing one blood in country’s six races, blue for the universe and yellow for richness, the country’s mineral wealth.

The club will pursue all disciplines of sport and already there are coaches for boxing, table tennis, netball and cricket.

Ramnarayan explained that the club was born out of the need to develop the young people of the Albouystown community.

“We heard of a lot of policies, but nothing seemed to be working,” Ramnarayan.

Thus some persons came together and started looking seriously into helping the youths who had nobody looking at them and their future. Apart from being involved in all disciplines of sport, the new club will focus on social issues - teenage pregnancy and drug abuse, among others.

“We will try to emulate the Lions club,” Ramnarayan pointed out.

The club president explained that the Harpy Eagles was selected as the name of the club because the bird can fly to great heights and spread its wings to soar over everything.

Patron ‘Sixhead’ Lewis, whose roots are in Albouystown, urged members of the community to support the club.

“All youths in the ‘ghetto’ need help,” Lewis said.

The club honoured three elders for their contribution to the community. They were David Fung, Joseph Da Silva and Aunty Baby who were presented with small trophies.

Da Silva, after receiving his award from the former World champion, disclosed that he was resident in the community for the past 37 years but there was a decline in the past few years.

“Things have been deteriorating daily. I thus welcome the club,” Da Silva said.

Minister of Tourism, Commerce & Industry Manzoor Nadir, who also has roots in Albouystown, recalled that there were always clubs in the community, although some might not have had formal structures. He was a member of Eagles, way back then.

The minister urged the members: “We ourselves will have to pull ourselves out of the depression. Establish in the youth, character of care, especially for the elders who have laid the foundation.”

Minister Nadir warned the executives that getting the club functioning would be hard.

“Sometimes there would be no quorum to make decisions,” Minister Nadir said. He added: “Don’t let that daunt your spirit.”