FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Sport Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange says the long-planned erection of a statue of legendary sprinter Usain Bolt in the historic Water Square in Falmouth, Trelawny is nearing completion.

According to Grange, the protracted delay was due to the time it took to source parts needed to be installed on the redesigned fountain where the statue is to be mounted.

“Some of the parts that were needed for the water fountain were unavailable and we had to source them from overseas and it took quite a while to get them,” Grange told the Jamaica Observer.

“The delay was beyond our control… between procurement, sourcing, and getting [the parts] here, it took a while,” added Grange.

Members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and the Trelawny Municipal Corporation have partnered to build the fountain.

Grange said that just last week members of the JDF and her team went to the National Stadium, where the replica of the statue is being stored, and have now finalised the measurements for the base and have completed arrangements for the statue to be moved to Water Square to be installed.

“We are at the point of completion where the JDF is going to build the base and install the statue,” said Grange, who refused to give yet another timeline for this to be done.

“I don’t want to give you a date. I want the process to be completed, that’s why I have not responded publicly because there are things that are out of our control, but the public and the people would not really understand. Yes, it’s good to communicate this but we were really hoping it would not have taken that long and so we just kept pushing and we are close to that point where it will be installed,” she said.

During last week’s regular monthly meeting of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation Mayor of Falmouth C Junior Gager indicated that prior to the statue being erected, Water Square will be cleared of people vending there illegally.

The redesigned fountain will feature eight spouts from which water will jet into the air. Two storyboards — one of the iconic athlete who is a native of Trelawny, and the other of Water Square — will also be placed at the fountain in the pedestrianised area of the town centre.

The design of the original fountain, which dates back to 1805, has evolved over the years. The newly designed fountain will be lit up in different colours to commemorate national holidays such as Emancipation Day and Christmas Day.

Bolt, a native of Sherwood Content in the parish, holds world records in the 100 metres and 200 metres, as well as the 4x100m relay.

In his decorated career Bolt won eight Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championships gold medals.