BY YVONNE WEBB
guardian.co.tt
FIFA vice president Austin Jack Warner has slammed the Government’s decision to construct an $850 million sporting complex in his San Fernando East constituency at Tarouba.
Speaking at a UNC political meeting in Gasparillo, which borders Manning’s constituency, Warner said the money could be better spent on upgrading existing sporting facilities and constructing new ones in areas where none exist.
The business community and other private organisations have also chided Government for this grandiose plan.
Warner said in his time former prime minister Basdeo Panday, who is behind bars on a charge of corruption brought against him by the Anti Corruption Bureau, built four stadiums and was building a fifth, all at a cost of $425 million.
“Of the four he built, he did not build one in Couva North (Panday’s constituency). He built one in Arima—they never got a seat there, he build one in Tobago—he never got a seat there. He built one in San Fernando, and so on.
“But he build four for $425 million and Manning want to build one in San Fernando East for $850 million.”
He said with expected cost overruns that figure is likely to escalate to $1 billion.
Warner said Manning is making a similar mistake his predecessors made when they constructed the massive Mt Hope medical complex instead of building smaller ones in Mayaro, Point Fortin and Chaguanas.
“I tell you, Mr Manning is making the same error and building a massive, monstrous facility in Tarouba.
“We have four football stadium all over the country. If I were Mr Manning, I would have, of course, taken one of them, upgraded it of course for cricket, then I would build a facility in Point Fortin, fix Mahaica Oval, I would have built one in Rio Claro/Mayaro, I would have built one in Sangre Grande...I’ll build one of course in Penal/Debe and I would bring sporting facilities to the country.
“But Manning is spending $850 million to build a facility in San Fernando East, when they cannot even maintain those they have not.”
Warner said prior to the arrest and detention of his political leader, he was considering taking a class action suit against Manning “for spending our
money.”
Warner said Manning would be better advised to take some of the money and fix the escalator in the Hasely Crawford Stadium and update the dressing room and maintain some of the existing facilities.
