Lara wants action at Tarouba Stadium
The Trinidad Guardian, Wednesday 16th April, 2008
By Yvonne Webb
After almost two years behind schedule, UDECOTT Chairman Calder Hart is now giving the assurance that the Brian Lara Stadium at Tarouba should be completed by July 2008.
Sports Minister Gary Hunt on the other hand, is not as convinced with Hart’s time line.
“A completion date is very hard to pin down at this time , but as you see work is going on as fast as humanly possibly and we are trying to get it done as quickly as possible,” Hunt told members of the media yesterday.
The Minister, Hart and former West Indies start batsman Brian Lara after whom the stadium is named, toured the incomplete facilities yesterday afternoon.
Uncomfortable with the fast and furious questions from reporters about the cost to date, projected final cost and a time line for completion, Hart said he was not in possession of those facts.
“But I can get the information and supply it to you,” he assured reporters.
“The projection is being worked out as we speak and as they become available we will make them available to you. Thank you very much, no more questions,” he said as he walked away from the microphones and television cameras.
Hart said the original cost of the Stadium was $500 million and even though $200m was spent on site work, and the project is years behind schedule, they are still hoping to complete within budget.
Saying how proud he was that a stadium was named after him, Lara called on the country to hold strain.
He said while it was important that the facility be completed, it was more important to develop a quality facility in keeping with his dream.
“This is part of the dream , part of the discussion I had with the Prime Minister in 2004 when I scored 400 runs and I am hoping that we get something that will benefit young sportsmen in the country.
“Not just cricket, but to see every young sports men have an opportunity with an academy of any sports to enhance us for many, years to come.”
The facility will be expanded to other sporting disciplines over time.
Lara said he is well aware that the unfinished stadium is one of the bugbears government and people have been grappling with.
“I know people are disappointed because we were supposed to have this up and running at least for a few of the practice games in the World Cup.
“That did not materialise, but at this point, I think we should hold strain. “With extra time, it is going to cost a lot more money. That is out of our hands.”
He expressed the hope that the finished stadium will not become a white elephant like so many other stadiums in the country that are under utilised.
“We just got to pray that we got a facility that is not a white elephant, something after it’s up and running, we don’t have anything happening.”
“I want to see this facility used day, in day out, “Lara said.
(Image copyright The Trinidad Guardian)
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