Preliminary deconstruction of the National Stadium has begun.
Recently, workmen and heavy-duty equipment were on site, partially removing one of the stands near the cycling track. Drilling sounds could be heard on the opposite side near the netball court.
Joy-Ann Haigh, chief executive officer of Haigh Communications, which is handling public relations on behalf of Barbados Tourism Investment Inc., said preliminary work was being undertaken in anticipation of the deconstruction.
“So we have three months, which started from April 1, to complete the deconstruction, and yesterday there was some testing and other various preliminary work done.
“We are also putting some things in place to mitigate dust. Right now, some fencing has gone up with some screens, but that process is not completed because we have to make sure that we meet the requirements of the Environmental Protection Department,” she added.
Haigh said the deconstruction, and construction of a new stadium, were all part of Phase 1 of the project, expected to take almost two and a half years, while Phase 2 will entail the building of a warm-up track and more seating. It is in that second phase where there will be changes to the Stadium Road and Codrington Road.
The MIDWEEK NATION spoke to a few residents in the surrounding communities on the deconstruction of the more than 50-year-old stadium.
Owner of The Lime Bar, Michael Mayers, had many fond memories of the stadium.
“Successive Governments have lagged with the stadium. There should have been a maintenance and upgrading programme in place. It still has a good structure, but now the only thing is to demolish and build back,” he said.
Mayers recalled football, athletics and cycling tournaments at the old facility, saying “Barbados once had the best cycling track in the region” as well as wrestling, road tennis and cricket matches.
He also remembered the Texaco Games, where companies competed against each other, and when regional police forces gathered to see which island had the most athletic officers. There was also the many years the stadium hosted the Pic O De Crop Finals.
“I’m sorry to see the old girl go, but the time has come. We need a proper sporting facility to get our local athletes going,” he said.
Another man, who gave his name only as “Mascoll”, agreed that Government needed a better building maintenance programme. He outlined his hopes for the new facility.
“First of all, I hope I live to see it. I would also like to see school sports come back home, and I hope businesses in the area see a drastic increase in sales. Plus, I hope they name the new stadium after one of our athletic greats like ‘Oba’ (Olympic bronze medallist Obadele Thompson),” he said.
Stadium Road resident Robert Foster said Haigh Communications was doing a good job keeping residents informed about what was happening, though he admitted he had not heard work was starting Tuesday.
He said he had seen workmen putting up fencing and scrubbing the area clean from Sunday, and heard they were now drilling and excavating.
Along Rollins Road, Angela Rollins said she welcomed the start of the work and looked forward to the end.
“The stadium was there for a long time but it needs to change. I used to hear people complaining about the noise when things were going on there, but it never bothered me. In fact, out here too quiet now, so I’m glad something’s happening.
I miss the noise,” she said, adding she was confident the contractors would minimise dust. The work is being done by Beijing Construction Engineering Group Co. Ltd using grant money from the People’s Republic of China. The new facility will incorporate symbols of Barbadian heritage in the design, and will include team rooms, a medical facility, meeting rooms, offices, press boxes, VIP boxes, a gym, 10 000 bucket seats and more.
