Warner cries foul with sports facilities.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner has alleged that the Sports Company of T&T has spent more than $250 million for the construction of facilities in the country, but there is nothing to show for it.
So disgusted was Warner about the white elephants, he has despatched an urgent letter to Prime Minister Patrick Manning seeking his assistance in having the facilities completed.
Warner, who is Special Advisor of the TT Football Federation and vice president of FIFA, pointed out in a letter to Manning that numerous projects initiated by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs have either ground to a halt in many instances or have been proceeding at a snail’s pace in others.
“It is in the national interest as an MP, and in accordance with the Westminster tradition, that I feel compelled to bring to your attention the current choatic situation with regard to the administration of sport and which situation demands your urgent intervention,” Warner’s letter stated in part.
“You will recall, Honourable Prime Minister, that I first raised such concerns in the House of Representatives on September 12th instant but the situation further demands that I address same to you via this medium.
“Where the projects have been stopped, those sites have become eyesores with overgrown grass and wild foliage being rampant, and where they have been proceeding at funeral pace the materials deposited at those sites have been disappearing.
“In such a calamitous situation, as I have outlined, you will surely agree that the contractors involved in those projects should have been called upon to account for such wanton wastage and misuse of public funds. The inertia of the contractors is a major source of frustration for the sport administrators, officials and youths whom we are daily encouraging to adopt a healthy lifestyle.”
Warner also pointed out to the Prime Minister that he made reference not only to projects which are located in his constituency but also to those around the country as in the case of the proposed Indoor Facility at Malabar.
To substantiate his claims, Warner enclosed photographs of the choatic situation at the Sangre Grande Youth Sport Facility on Ojoe Road, the Brian Lara Facility in Santa Cruz, the Damarie Hill Recreation ground, the Maracas Recreational Facility, the Mt St Benedict’s Tennis Courts, the Arima Youth Sports Facility on Dindial Road and the Paramin and Cocorite Recreation Grounds.
He also advised that the Sports Company of TT (SPORTT), which to date spent well over $250 million, has decided to relocate itself from the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva where it had been located from inception at no cost to the public purse, to Spetakula Promotions Building on Henry Street in Port of Spain at a monthly rental of $248,700, for which they already paid four months rent in advance. Warner stated that he was also advised that the Ministry of Sport also intends to execute repairs to the property well in excess of half a million dollars.
