THE cantilever which hangs over the grandstand section of the National Stadium is his major area of concern, City Engineer Norman Shand has told the Observer.

Shand was responding to queries a day after Kingston’s mayor Desmond McKenzie raised concerns about the structural competence of the stadium, which was built in 1962.

During the newspaper’s weekly Monday Exchange of reporters and editors, McKenzie called the stadium a “death trap” and said if it were not for the importance of this week’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys & Girls Athletic Championships, the event would not have been allowed to go ahead.

The Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association is this week marking 100 years since the first high school championships was held in 1910.

Shand, who holds a diploma in Structural Engineering and degree in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Technology (UTech), told the Observer that he, along with a team from the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC), conducted an inspection of the facility several weeks ago.

“There was evidence of cracks in the slabs and beams on the cantilever,” he said.

“There was also patchwork of cement work in certain areas; rusting and other signs where there seem to be leaks, and watermarks which suggest the cracks may be from the outside,” he added.

An official report was done based on those findings, but Shand said he would not be able to provide the Observer with a copy.

“I recommended that a structural engineer do the necessary testing to see the effect and if it is critical, or if remedial work needs to be done,” he said.

When asked if he would be willing to attend events at the stadium and sit in the grandstand, Shand paused before responding: “It’s difficult to say… I would sit there, hoping that nothing would happen.”

Independence Park Limited’s (IPL’s) general manager Major Desmon Brown, who is in charge of the day-to-day operation of the stadium, told the Observer he only received a copy of the report, dated March 19, yesterday after discussions with the mayor earlier in the day.

He said subsequent to his talks with McKenzie, a team from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) had conducted an inspection of the facility.

A second inspection which would involve members of the National Works Agency bout(NWA), Fire Department, and Urban Development Corporation (UDC), he said, would be done right after the Championships to address any lingering issues.

Brown told the Observer that the last major inspection of the National Stadium was in 2002 ahead of the country’s hosting of the World Junior Championships.

Meanwhile, ISSA president Dr Walton Small told the Observer that it was unfortunate they had just learnt of the findings of the KSAC and if the schools sports governing body had been told beforehand, they would have postponed the huge ‘Champs’ celebrations planned for this week.

“Because we believe that the safety of our students is our foremost responsibility… and we would have postponed all of this for the safety of our students, our patrons and our fans,” he said.

The Wolmer’s Boys’ principal said he hoped nothing would go wrong this week and that patrons would still support the meet.

Meanwhile, McKenzie said no other events the magnitude of the ‘Champs’ will be allowed to be held at the stadium until IPL has dealt with the issues.