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Sports administrator working feverishly towards a modern sports academy
Wayne Walcott
By Michael Benjamin
A few months ago Wayne Walcott devised a wonderful plan where he would have occupied a portion of the Durban Park playfield to construct a facility where young sports personalities could engage in meaningful sports and academic activity.
Excited with the idea, he subsequently wrote to Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, seeking the requisite permission and assistance to realize his project. Mr. Benn advised Walcott to discuss his plans with the Honourable Minister of Sports, Frank Anthony. Whether Walcott acquiesced to the request was never known. What is apparent is that the plan simply fell through dampening his enthusiasm and leaving Walcott frustrated and disenchanted by the unfortunate turn of events.
It is said that perseverance is the key to success. Employing this aged old adage, Walcott brushed aside the initial disappointment and continued explore ways of realizing his objective. His staunch determination recently paid off when the young man was bequeathed 20 acres of land in Coverden, East Bank Demerara. Walcott told this reporter that the land is family property ownership, dating back to centuries. He said that the land has passed through the hands of several generations. With the property now bequeathed to him, Walcott has started negotiations with several financial institutions to procure the required funding to realize his lifelong dream. Apart from such discussions Walcott is also desirous of selling a portion of the property so as to offset the cost of the sports project.
Already, Walcott is in possession of approved plans of the design of the buildings to be constructed on the tract of land. He said that upon completion, the site would house four buildings. One of these buildings would be converted into a gymnasium with sauna baths, whirlpool baths, hydro therapy bath and an ultra sound machine. He also plans to set up a chemo therapy facility where sports administrators may utilize vitamins and minerals to help speed up recovery after grueling sports activities or competition.
Walcott further disclosed that the second building would house an athletics academy with sleeping quarters and a dining room while the third building would be converted into a research centre, a classroom area and a recreation hall. “I have given serious thought to this project and I realize that it is accomplishable,” Walcott pronounced.
Quizzed on the cost of the project and the source of funding Walcott intimated that apart from the sale of a portion of the land he has been in discussion with several financial institutions which have all demonstrated an interest in the project. “I am also mulling on the idea of enacting the Bedford Athletic Academy Developmental fund where contributors may contribute to the project.”
He also hinted that already he has negotiated with perspective buyers to sell a portion of the property. “If the deal materializes I can safely say that about $25 million of the overall costs will be taken care of,” assured Walcott.
Presently, there are three buildings on the property – a residential home, which he plans to convert into the office quarters, another house that he is yet to commence construction works and the third building which houses a church.
Walcott disclosed that he has sought the intervention of the courts to have the congregation removed from the property. This process has been ongoing for a number of years and he is very optimistic that the situation would reach an amicable conclusion in the near future.
In the meantime, Walcott has already confirmed to the requisite criteria of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Companies to have the important utilities installed. GT&T has already fulfilled their end of the bargain while he is currently awaiting the final word from GPL.
With a potable water network already installed, Walcott is ready to move ahead with the other phase of the project. He has since promised that all systems would be up and running in the very near future. “This would be my gift to the sporting fraternity,” he concluded.
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