The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net MINISTER of Sports Charles Maynard yesterday dismissed claims made by the PLP that the national stadium was not up to par with international standards. Mr Maynard was responding to Fred Mitchell, the Member of Parliament for Fox Hill, who said the new track and the field may have to be "dug up" at a cost to the Bahamian people to comply with international regulations. "This is obviously a fabrication in the PLP's mind. These statements are not true. I saw a press release in regard to these stories and their reasoning is not true," said Mr Maynard. "In regard to the field, the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) at their own expense will come here to do the inspection and the certification. They haven't done so yet. We have not reached out to them yet. We are leaving that up to the Sports Authority. When they are ready FIFA will come. "When it comes to the track, the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) has a list of certified firms that come on their behalf to inspect. We are in the process of receiving bids from several firms. When that is completed, they will carry out the inspection. Once again, that is something the Sports Authority deals with. However, I can assure you we are up to standard." Mr Maynard also refuted claims that the Ministry of Works did not carry out the necessary inspections on the stadium. He brushed off the PLP's comments as "political tactics." "All the inspections are done. We have been doing that over the past eight months. Everything is up to specs. What needed to be adjusted was adjusted. We are compliant. I do not know where the PLP is getting the stuff from," he said. "The 15,000 people that came to the opening saw it was real display of national pride. It is a celebration of the Bahamas, not anything political. I can assure you we did everything we were supposed to in regard to the stadium." The Thomas A Robinson Stadium was officially opened on Saturday. It cost $50 million to build and was officially handed over to the Bahamas government last year. It took the Chinese almost three years to complete. * For more pictures, turn to the sport section, page 2E