Stadium track project on schedule, Grange seeks to assure public
Minister of Sport Olivia Grange says the resurfacing of the running track at the National Stadium is on schedule to be completed ahead of the boys’ and girls’ athletics championships next month.
“We’re on track based on the work plan and the timelines that have been established,” said the minister after visiting the facility at Independence Park on Wednesday and having discussions with representatives of Rekortan, which has been engaged to resurface the track.
According to a release by her ministry, Grange received the assurances of the Rekortan Vice President for the North American region, Doug Stone.
Minister Grange said: “The team that’s here from Rekortan, which includes the vice president, they’re very confident that they will complete the work in time for Champs. They showed me the work plan, walked me through it, indicated some of the issues that exist on the ground. They said they have found some areas where they have to cut out and treat. They’ll work day and night so that the schedule that has been worked out — we will meet those deadlines.”
She said the Rekortan team, in collaboration with the team at Independence Park Limited, has been working.
“They’ve washed the track, they’re gonna wash it again. They are doing the scope right now, looking at areas, special areas, that will need special treatment,” Grange said.
The minister also sought to address concerns that the proposed Concacaf Champions Cup game on March 13 at the National Stadium could affect the resurfacing of the running track.
“The date for the football is also a part of the [work] plan, so they’ve factored that in which means that it will not affect the work going on.”
Grange said she was satisfied that the work will be completed as scheduled barring acts of God.
Her remarks were made against the background of mounting concerns that the work will not be completed in time for the boys and girls athletics championships, popularly known as Champs, which is just under four weeks away.
Keith Wellington, the president of Champs organiser Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), had said a decision about a potential postponement of the event may need to be made over the weekend.
READ: CHAMPS ON TRACK?
