The highly publicized on again off again repairs to the woefully “past its use date” track at the National Stadium have been put on the front burner again. Unfortunately, local and other athletes will have to wait until after Crop Over 2012 for something to happen.
That new update was given by Minister of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley, at the Barbados Olympic Association’s annual Christmas dinner and awards ceremony which were held at Hilton Barbados on Friday night.
Speaking before a large group of sports administrators, as well as Member of Parliament, Hamilton Lashley; Acting British High Commissioner, Phil Culligan; Honorary Consul to India, Dr Mohini Harris; Austin Sealy, International Olympic Committee member in Barbados; president of the BOA, Steve Stoute; Erskine King, director of the National Sports Council, as well as chairman Seibert Straughan, Lashley said he was aware of the excitement about the delay in replacing the track and the upgrade of the facilities at the National Stadium.
“This matter and the desire not to compromise the hosting of our primary and secondary school sports in particular as well as Crop Over 2012 activities, have occupied our full attention.
Consequently, we have decided that it would be best to commence the replacement of the track and the upgrade of the National Stadium, immediately following Crop Over 2012,” said Lashley.
The minister would have responded with similar promises of repairs to the track two years ago when president of the Amateur Athletic Association, Esther Maynard, started national clamours for the needed repairs after Barbados had returned from a successful CARIFTA Games.
Ambassador Ryan Brathwaite at the time that he was the World champion, had also indicated the he could not run on the deteriorated track fearing injury.
On Friday night the minister also indicated that upgrading work would include improvements to the bathroom facilities as well as to the football field.
“The National Sports Council is also exploring the possibility of installing plastic seating in the various stands,” stated Lashley.
The new plans and its timing to repair the track could be bad news for the recently concluded and very popular LIME Pelican Football Challenge which benefited from the delayed repairs that would have put the Stadium out of use this year.
With the field at Paradise Park lacking seating and adequate security and the cost of Kensington being prohibitive, the Stadium was able to host many action-packed nights with thousands filling the stands right up to semi-finals.
However, in reaffirming Government’s commitment to Barbados athletes’ continued development and to ensuring that their chances of excelling are comparable to those of counterparts in the international arena, Lashley would have been pleased with the individual awards shared out on the night.
Topping the list was Hamilton Lashley who received the IOC Trophy For Sport For Social Responsibility from IOC member Sealy. Pan Am Games bronze medallists, boxer Anderson Emmanuel and athlete Shakeira Reece received their medals as well as awards as the senior male and female athletes for 2011.
Reece also copped the 2011 President’s Award while runner Kion Joseph and surfer Chelsea Tuach won the respective junior male and female awards for 2011.
Surfer Chelsea Roett along with triathlete, Jason Wilson and the Barbados Amateur Weightlifting Association captured special awards, while a special Recognition Award was presented to Maria Sealy.
The 11-year-old torpedo Jack Kirby copped gold in all seven of the events that he competed in and the intimidating pattern was set from early when the slimly-built swimmer set records in his first three events, the 25 metres, free, back and fly.