American hurdler visits Synthetic Track

Nov 06, 2014 Sports

– Government moves to recover $32.6M

American 100m hurdler, Kristi Castlin yesterday paid a courtesy call on the Minister

American hurdler Kristi Castlin (third, left) along with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony (right) and Ministry officials tour the Synthetic Track and Field Facility at Leonora yesterday.

of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, following which she visited the Synthetic Track and Field Facility at Leonora that Government has filed a writ in the High Court to recover $32.6M from a contractor for non-performance on Phase II of the project.
Castlin, who is in Guyana compliments of the United States Embassy in Georgetown, addressed a number of students from schools within the Essequibo Islands/West Demerara Region. The 26-year-old hurdler told students that they can reach their full potential in sport.
“It makes you very dynamic, when you are hurdling there is a lot you put into it and a lot you can do, you can run the 100, the 200; it just makes you dynamic,” Castlin said, adding that becoming a hurdler takes a lot of dedication and hard work owed to the technicality of the event.
The NCAA All-American urged Coaches and athletes to come out on Friday to listen to points in sprinting that can help athletes improve generally. Officially, it was noted that the top athlete will be in Guyana during November 5-7; hurdling at any level is not among track and field disciplines practiced in Guyana.
Meanwhile, through the Attorney General Chambers, Government has moved to recover its performance bond and advance payment guarantee valued at a total of $32.6M from a contractor for failing to satisfactorily complete works on the bordering fence and ticket booth at the facility.
The Synthetic Track has three main phases with several sub-lots or components. Phase I started in December 2010, and was expected to last six months. Courtney Benn had won the award for Phase I after submitting a $124, 960, 227M bid.
Works in Phase II, Lot 5 included loam grading, filling base up to loam level and the sub-surface drainage. Phase II, which also comprised laying the actual synthetic track, was given to German company, BSW Regupol.
BSW Regupol had signed a $93,000,000M contract for their works. Regupol laid the track that was used at the World Championships in Berlin 2009. The company also laid the track at Mona Campus, University of West Indies and Jamaican National Stadium.
Since 2010, the facility has suffered many setbacks with every completion deadline pushed back, and the sacking of yet another contractor marks the third contractor that was sent packing for the issue of non-performance. Currently, northern stands are being erected. The Ministry had said that the estimated cost to complete the entire facility is US$5M.