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Thu, Mar

Dwight Yorke Stadium
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THE Tobago House of Assembly (THA) says delays to the refurbishment of the Dwight Yorke Stadium has cost it an additional $2 million.

Although the stadium is managed by the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT), an agency of the Ministry of Sport, the THA agreed to partner with central government to cover the cost of the project.

The work began in December 2012 and included the laying of a new synthetic athletic track, which has now been completed by two German contractors, along with a new drainage system on the athletic track and field. The refurbishment should have been finished by April 2013. The new track should bring it up to International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) standards.

The THA's Assistant Secretary in the Division of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport (DEYAS), Jomo Pitt indicates that the THA originally budgeted $10 million for the project but this has now increased to $12 million. He says the additional cost is due to the extended delays and because the new drainage system was not included in the original budget.

He has previously stated that the Ministry’s initial budget to repair five stadia in Trinidad and Tobago was $77 million.

Pitt is now hopeful that the Dwight Yorke Stadium can be officially opened by July, although he stresses that the final decision lies with Trinidad. Acting head, facilities management and maintenance at SPORTT, Anthony Blake says that the project was stalled as a result of last year’s rainy season.

He told Tobago News in early April that the track would be completed within three weeks.

Blake had declared that the National Junior Championship Track and Field events would have been held at the Dwight Yorke Stadium to mark the reopening of the refurbished track.

However, following the death and burial of former President ANR Robinson, Blake indicates that work was stalled for a week and a half and that the Ministry of National Security had to compensate the German contractor which was in Tobago at that time. He states that an inspection of the track was done right after the funeral and there was no damage to the track. Blake also indicates that there will be further delays as the track has not been marked out.

“We have finished the installation of the track about a week ago, and it is 100 per cent installed,” says Blake. He states that the line marking of the track is critical as it needs to meet IAAF standards, and the federation will send a certified individual to mark the track.

“They will do a report and send it to IAAF, who will give us the certification and then international events can be held,” declares Blake, who would not disclose the additional cost of the refurbishment work to Tobago News.

He explains that the certified individual who will mark the track is currently in Australia and is being delayed there by rains. He noted that the line marking would take approximately four to five days.

The Zenith relays were supposed to be held at the stadium on June 13, however Blake explains that as the track had not been marked, no scheduled events can be held.

The Dwight Yorke Stadium will be subjected to new rules and regulations once it has been certified by the IAAF.

Since the refurbishment work began, users of the stadium have had to seek alternative venues to host events. The Tobago Football Association (TFA) has described the lengthy repairs as a “nightmare.”

It has complained that the delays has caused it administrative problems. The President of the TFA, Raymond Alleyne said, “The stadium is the only venue in Tobago where we as an association can appropriately organise to collect revenue from games, there are serious logistical issues at all other venues.”

The TFA competition, which usually starts in June, is expected to have more than 25 teams, including women and young people. The addition of new teams to the TFA’s competition means an increase in the administrative cost for the organisation.