And this issue of charging recreational usage fees for San Ignacio's stadiums is one that the Twin Town Council has been trying to fight against since its implementation back in March.
The Town Council, which has butted heads plenty of time due to being a mixed council, is in agreement that the fees should have never been put into effect - or at the very least, not for athletes who are just practicing.
And today, the mayor explained that these spaces also need to be left open for youths to have a place to go.
Earl Trapp, Mayor of SI/SE Town Council
"I would say the entire football family as it relates to youths, children, that would participate in the Mundialito tournament all up to the grown ups have been using this stadium free of cost especially during the day. I can understand that at nighttime we have electricity that we use up and even so I would say, you know what, when it comes to training, we as a government - local and national - should make provision for our youths that they can come and empower themselves, that they can develop themselves, through the use of the sporting facilities."
"Especially post covid when things are so dread, you know I think this is the time that we as a government, and also the private sector, should do more to create more open spaces, parks, playgrounds, football fields for our youths to come and train. It is so sad that this critical incident that took the life of a youth, a promising youth, it had to happen for things to change. I'm sure it will change. Like my councillor said, we were on the verge of getting an interview with the authorities to change the policies around."
"I can understand this stadium being used for a tournament and you will charge the committee to use the stadium because we are charging to come in, I can see that, but at least leave it open for the youths to train and we go from there."
And his PUP councillor, Matthew Preston, said that they've been trying to get a meeting with the National Sport Council long before this tragedy, and though a young life has been taken away, they're still hoping that the Ministry of Sports will sit down with them.
Matthew Preston, Councillor, SI/SE Town Council
"When I heard about the fees that they started to implement, the National Sports Council, we brought it up in our town council meeting and we were completely against it but knowing that the National Sports Council and the Town Council are two separate entities and for me it's very heart breaking because growing up at this very same field, Broaster Stadium, never have I had to pay one cent to use it. Maybe use it to com and watch a game you'd pay, but not to come and practice."
"I've been trying to get in contact with the Minister of Sports and hopefully they can get a meeting with the Town Council with the National Sports Council with the Minister of Sports so we can see what we can do to remedy this because again we barely have facilities here in San Ignacio and Santa Elena and where are the kids gonna play."
"It feels like, it's hard to say anything about it because we tend to be reactive when something fatal happens and we need to start taking action before something like this happens. I call on the government to try and see how they can prevent this from happening again because if it's not the police, it's youths killing youths, we need to try and see how we can create more social activities to bring more positivity in our community."
