It is just a matter of time before the National Gymnasium would not only be diversified, but the facilities there are expected to be top of the line.
Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr
Back in 2021, Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr., Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Kashif Muhammed, assessed a number of Sport facilities around the country to determine what rehabilitation work or upgrade was necessary. The National Gymnasium was earmarked for new lights, basketball courts, and better dorms and washroom facilities.
Now, according to Ramson Jr, works on the National Gymnasium are pretty close to completion, with the courts being the only aspect outstanding.
“The only thing that needs to be completed is the basketball court. There are some remedial works that we need to verify, just to see that it is at the level that it’s supposed to be,” Ramson Jr has shared.
The Sport Minister has listed aspects of the rehabilitation project that have already been completed. He said, “But I can tell you what we did already. So, we completed the fence on one side, so the…area is secured, first of all. We took out all of the grass and heaps of bush and that kind of stuff that was in there. We put crusher run throughout the entire area, and then sealed it. We installed the lights.”
He went on to add, “Those are very, very good LED lights, with the concrete 50foot poles and underground wiring. We also executed the project for the basketball court. We brought in the basketball hoops. We also built the washroom, changing room and shower. We haven’t opened that up as yet, but it’s completed.”
In sharing that he was unable to do an inspection of the ongoing work at the Mandela Avenue location, Ramson highlighted that he would do so in the near future, since it is his responsibility as Sport Minister to ensure the standard of work is top tier.
“All that has been done, so I’m just waiting. We were supposed to check the basketball court yesterday (Saturday last), we didn’t get a chance to,” he revealed.
The Sport Minister further stated, “Ultimately, it’s the Ministry that is responsible, and I’m lead for the Ministry. So, when it comes time to verify that it’s done to the standard that we’d like to see it be done, somebody’s got to be held accountable for that, and that’s me.”
