Residents call for adequate sporting facilities in Leguan

Feb 23, 2014 Sports

A number of residents of the Essequibo river island of Leguan have uttered their disappointment at the lack of adequate sporting facilities in the area. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport recently, the people stated that the youths are starved of suitable conveniences and as such cannot hone their skills in various disciplines, adding that they have to play cricket

This was the state of the Green’s Park ground when Kaieteur Sport visited the area on Tuesday last.

on the road which is very dangerous.
Dr. Kamal Roy Narine, a Regional councillor (region 3) for the Alliance for Change party said that there are four grounds on the island, two are privately owned and the others fall under the jurisdiction of the Leguan Neighbourhood Democratic Council; one is situated at Enterprise and is known as Green’s Park and the next is at Clairmont and is called Bundary Park.
Kaieteur Sport however understands that work has commenced at Green’s Park on Friday last.
Dr. Narine stated that little or no work was done to upgrade and maintain Green’s Park which did not host a sporting activity for the last four years. He informed that $1M was allocated through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to develop the ground in 2012 adding that the money was given to a contractor on the island but no work was done. “When I raised this issue at the RDC sports committee meetings little was said about it”, he said.
He informed that the Leguan Night Committee was given $900,000 from the said Ministry to prepare the venue for the Leguan night activities which were held in November 2013 and the money was also given to the said contractor but the work done were not equivalent to the money allocated. “Workers attached to the NDC Drainage and Irrigation task force were asked to work for several days on the ground and this was not supposed to be. An RDC grader that was on the island did some work on the ground for the hosting of the event and little work was done by the contractor”, he added.
Dr. Narine explained that the fence and bridge materials (timber) went missing from the ground and the Leguan Night Committee did little to uplift the facility. He feels that funds generated from these activities should be used for the enhancement of education and sports which will keep the youths meaningfully occupied, stating that a special committee including residents from across the island should be formed to manage the ground.
He expressed displeasure that no one from the opposition was invited to be part of the Leguan Night Committee and he is not satisfied with the accountability of the funds raised from the event which should have been made public.
Dr. Narine indicated that a further $2M was given to fix the ground at Clairmont since 2012-2013 but no work was done and half of the money cannot be accounted for.
Meanwhile, another resident said that the grounds should be up and running so that the youths can be taken off the streets.
Kaieteur Sport was made to understand that the stand at Green’s Park which is attached to the existing Youth Choice Initiative building that is currently used for information technology classes was built by the contractor.
When contacted, chairman of the NDC Albert James, who occupied the position in May 2013, said that the ground (Green’s Park) was in a terrible state and the first million dollars which was given to the NDC was used to plough, chip, back blade as well as improve the drainage facility. He pointed out that during the rainy season they found out that sections of the outfield became water logged and the NDC requested another million dollars from the RDC in 2013 which was used to purchase sand. The chairman indicated that he is satisfied with the works done on the ground and the money was spent on the project, but the ground was

Photo showing the stand (green and white) that is attached to the Youth Choice Initiative building at Green’s Park.

not slashed due to the rain.
James explained that G$1M was given to upgrade the ground situated at Clairmont, a village on the Western part of the island, but the money was retained by the RDC because constant rain fall at the time prevented any works from being carried out. He added that he is in the process of forwarding a letter to the said contractor requesting him to commence and complete the work within a month.

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