The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE government will have to foot the financial cost of having corrective work done on the new Thomas A Robinson Stadium, according to Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday.

Mr Christie said the repairs were imperative as the stadium, which was a gift to the country from the People’s Republic of China, would host the 2013 Carifta games.

“The government will fix the stadium,” he said, “we have to do it because the Carifta games are being held there in March of next year over the Easter holidays. Hopefully the work will be started earlier in the new year and be completed in time for the Carifta games.

“We have progressed significantly in the area of sports tourism that there is a major commitment. As you know our predecessors appointed a sports authority to have a more effective way of managing the stadia throughout the country. I have had discussions with investors and asking them to contribute to the sporting facilities because we expect to have a significant impact on how the sports centre is managing their facilities.”

Since the keys to the stadium were handed over to the government in June, there was speculation that several key elements of the stadium would not pass international inspections.

Those included questions of the track and field meeting standards. Others questioned if the lanes on the track were wide enough or if two of the curves had fallen short and needed correction. It was also said that the inner field needed minor work.

However, Track Masters International’s Matthew Cohen told The Tribune in May that the stadium would have no trouble meeting the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) standards.

Cohen suggested that the new stadium should pass the inspection with flying colours. “I’ve been checking all the markings and I’ve noticed that there is nothing wrong. I’m impressed with what I’ve seen.”

The national stadium reportedly cost around $50 million.