Georgetown: Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, giving an update on the Synthetic Athletic Track being constructed at Leonora, in Region 3, said the flagship project has been faced with some ups and downs with some of the contractors on site because of the way they have been working.
“We have sat with the contractors and tried to get a recovery plan so that we could be closer to where we want to be. Nevertheless, one of the stands has had its foundation completed and it is expected to be more substantially completed by November,” the Minister said.
Earlier this year a $176M contract was awarded to BK International for the construction of two stands at the northern side of the track. These are being built in stages, and once completed will accommodate about10, 000 people.
The material for the synthetic surface of the track has been in Guyana for the past month, and favourable weather is being awaited, which should consist of at least two weeks of sunshine. The Minister explained that this is expected shortly, according to the Meteorological Office which has indicated a time frame.
“We have contacted REGUPOL who’ll be sending in a team of engineers to lay the synthetic surface,” he said. The German company has indicated that they require seven days of good weather to lay the track.
Minister Anthony added that it is expected that the surface would be laid before the end of the year, and while there have been some advances for the facility, some of the contractors really need to speed up their work.
There have been discussions between the Ministry and the Guyana Football Federation on how that organisation can utilise the facility at Leonora. He explained that while some elements of construction work are still ongoing, it would not affect the use of the football field.
“So we would start talking with our various partners, football and athletics, so that they can start doing some work once the track and field is completed. But that will perhaps start when we finish the synthetic surface,” the Minister noted.
The synthetic track and field has been designed in phases, and at present there are several contractors on site with specific tasks.
Ground work such as landscaping, and levelling of the football field, and creation of the parking area and the foundation for the track itself are completed.
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