No hooligan activities allowed at new Glenside Recreation Centre

The Glenside Recreation Centre has officially been handed over to the community with a strict warning that any activities which promote lawlessness will not be allowed.

This, from Marriaqua constituency representative, St Clair ‘Jimmy’ Prince as he delivered remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the centre on Monday, October 2.

“I have seen elsewhere in this constituency where a small minority take pleasure in destroying the facility. They break off doors, gates, remove fittings and generally mash up the place put there for their own good. I am appealing to everyone… take control and take care of it.”

The facility is one of four projects done in collaboration with the government of India under the Quick Impact Projects (QIP)- an initiative of ‘short gestation projects’ focused on community development with each being capped at US$50,000. The Glenside Recreation Centre was constructed at a cost of almost US$40,000 and includes a hard court, a pavilion with changing rooms, bleachers and a children’s playground.

The Health Minister highlighted the infrastructural challenges when it comes to the construction public facilities in the constituency in light of its slopped terrain.

“Building public facilities like hard courts and playing fields and playgrounds; even schools and health centres, present head-scratching moments for the people of Marriaqua.”

The project also included the construction of a river defence as the facility sits on the bank of the “dangerous” Yambou River. Prince described the project as the “crowning jewel” of projects completed in the constituency, adding, the hope is that it will help with the reduction of crime and other anti-social behaviours.

He added, in light of the tremendous financial investment put into the facility, activities that promote ‘hooliganism’ are a no-no.

“You know what these activities are and we have spoken about them before. We not having nothing where hooliganism run riot to mash up this place. I also appeal to parents to speak to their children about the proper use of the centre and … that they will oversee what is happening here.”

The three other additional projects done under the QIP are the Port Elizabeth markets in Bequia, the rehabilitation and transformation of the Chateaubelair Agricultural Depot and the refurbishment of the Calder Community Centre.

Ambassador of India to the Republic of Suriname and High Commissioner of India to Barbados, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Shankar Balachandran, said the QIP is testament to the strengthening relationship between the two countries. (API)