Is Parade Ground still suitable for playing football?

Aug 16, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,

A closely guarded secret I have kept for years, after careful consideration must now be brought to light, moreover publicly. I’m in dire need of a mental evaluation, since from all indications my mental faculties are not intact, or it’s simply waning? Or is it with age my sight is failing that what I’ve read is unbelievable. Editor, this is in relation to an article published in K.N.03.08.16, captioned:” Banks D IH Ltd, / ABSAA Under- 13 Inter- Community Football resumes today”. Whereby in accordance with paragraph 1: “ Play in the Banks DIH Ltd/ABSAA, inaugural Co-Ed Under13 Inter- Community Football resumes today, at Parade ground on Middle and Wellington Streets, starting at 10:30 hrs.”
Putting aside the incorrect publication of one of the streets’ name that is correctly Waterloo and definitely not Wellington, Wellington is the continuation of Waterloo beyond North Road/ Church Street. Maybe an oversight on behalf of Sports Editor, in not perusing the press release/ email properly! Nevertheless, how on “God’s Good Earth” of all places the Parade ground, was chosen as the venue to facilitate this competition?
Is this for real, or a figment of my imagination? Are my mental faculties intact, or have I read a different Kaieteur News? The harsh but sad realities of the situation as it unfolds are:
A. For over 2 decades the Parade Ground, which falls directly under the jurisdiction of the M&CC, was allowed to deteriorate to its present state, despite the fact on numerous occasions, towards garnering revenues.
B. With a student population of approximately 5,000 within its close proximity, for the corresponding period, they are devoid / denied of a recreational facility.
C. Is it prudent to play organised football at such a venue, unkempt and non- maintained, for the corresponding, moreover involving Under- 13 youths that some may be playing organised football, or some semblance of it for the first time in their lives?
D. Sadly, is this because the majority of them are underprivileged, urban youths that they don’t deserve the basic amenities of a lavatory, change room, bleachers and a common stand pipe?
E. Interestingly, how can Banks DIH Ltd, ABSAA, GFF and the Petra Organization that are listed among sponsors, with football knowledge accept this level of administrative inefficiency? Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park (Saturday and Sunday only) along with GFC and Camptown could have been approached for the use of their respective grounds, which offer a 110 percent more better playing surface.
In the final analysis with former Canadian International and Hall of Famer; Alex Bumbury, GFF International Ambassador who’s in pursuit of establishing an ultra- modern sports academy, in my estimation, it doesn’t deserve his name to be dragged into the gutter, with a football competition being played at the unplayable Parade Ground. If this facility was that good then Digicel and the GFA would have utilised it for matches. Nevertheless, I still need a mental evaluation to ascertain if my faculties are intact. Since this level of duplicity leaves much to be desired. By the way were official officiating personnel from the National Referees Council used for the matches?
Lester Sealey

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