“Criticise the man who is being paid to get the job done”

“Criticise the man who is being paid to get the job done” – says Kumar

Oct 05, 2012 Sports

– as MCYS inks contract to build Resource Centre

By Edison Jefford
Director of Sport (DoS), Neil Kumar yesterday urged the media to not spare the contractors and construction companies, who are paid to deliver Government sports projects in a timely manner but often fail to do so, of criticism.
Kumar was specifically speaking at the simple contract signing ceremony for the construction of a Resource Centre at the Racquet Centre. The Centre will be built to the tune of $44,113,430 and is expected to take six months with works commencing in two weeks.
The facility will house a canteen, two lecture areas, library and washrooms and is expected to be available to sport associations, officials, coaches and athletes for training development. Kumar

Minister Dr. Frank Anthony (left) hands over the signed contracts to build the Resource Centre at the Racquet Centre to Eron Lall of Eron Lall
Civil Engineering Works yesterday afternoon in the presence of PS, Alfred King, DCSL Director, Patrick Pitt and DoS, Neil Kumar.

is of the view that contractors ought to be accountable.
“Please criticise and criticise objectively. Criticise the man who is being paid to get the job done. When you see it’s taking long, don’t beat us up, blame the contractor. Lay that blame at the right place,” Kumar told the media yesterday.
“We are doing this (signing ceremony) for you, especially the media, to know that we are doing this with transparency. We need to have a Resource Centre, so that our sports people can be trained properly,” Kumar continued.
Design and Construction Services Limited (DCSL) will overlook the project that Eron Lall Civil Engineering Works will build. Construction is expected to commence within 14 days. There will be an annual budgetary amount to resource the facility.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Dr. Frank Anthony believes that the initiative is a vehicle for the development of a National Sports Institute that will be able to offer courses and eventually diplomas in various aspects of sports.
“We are going to budget resources to get books etc. to help officials keep abreast. Associations have been complaining about having an area where they can train people. This area will be used for that,” Anthony said, adding it will be a coordinated effort.
The Minister said that the idea may seem small at the moment, but could develop into something much bigger for holistic development of sports. Permanent Secretary, Alfred King believes that students will be able to use the facility for Physical Education studies.