The wheels are finally beginning to turn towards the actual construction of a new national stadium.
Confirmation of this was given by Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith, who told the House of Assembly yesterday the Chinese government had recently asked Government to “clear up all of the material” at the location in preparation for the demolition of the existing structure.
He was responding to a request for an update by Senior Minister Dr William Duguid during debate on the Appropriation Bill, 2025.
Giving a more detailed account of the progress, sports development officer with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Stephen Rowe said a Chinese delegation was expected in Barbados next week “to start the process of reviewing the stadium in its current state and making concrete plans for the demolition of the facility”.
Rowe added that the new stadium would be built in two phases, with the first phase to be erected on the western side of the existing site to seat 10 000, while a 400-metre warm-up track “to international standard”, would be built on the current site of Barbados Lumber Company.
That phase, according to Rowe, is projected by the Chinese to take 29 months for completion. He added Phase 2 of the project, which will be on the northern side, would also have 10 000-seats.
Asked by Duguid for details on Phase 2 and what would be the impact on the Waterford road which runs alongside the stadium, Griffith stated construction of this section would mean
having to “redirect the road slightly at that particular end because of the expanse of Phase 2, using a portion of the Botanical Gardens to meet back at the junction by Combermere School”.
Of the progress made on the designs so far, Rowe said they were “being influenced by the master plan for the National Stadium, the draft of which has been completed and will be reviewed shortly”.
The rebuilding the National Stadium,
which Griffith pointed out had been “closed for ten years”, was one of the focal issues as debate on the Appropriation Bill, 2025
dealing with the 2025/26 Estimates, entered the fifth day.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley had earlier announced the new stadium would be built with a “grant” from the People’s Republic of China.
She also indicated at that time, that the labour force for construction would include both Chinese and Barbadian workers. (GC)
