NSC still hopeful

Despite the holdup in the US$200 million Buccama Bay Project, the National Sports Council is optimistic that the verbal arrangements made previously with the developers will still materialise.{{more}}

The developers had offered to spend EC$3.5 Million on the development of the Buccament Bay Playing Field, which borders the multi-million dollar establishment.

NSC’ s board member Elson Crick told SEARCHLIGHT last Tuesday that owners have committed themselves and he sees no relenting in the decision.

“Once they have sorted out their problems, we expect work to begin probably during the first quarter”, Crick said in optimism.

Crick revealed that Minister of Foreign Affairs Sir Louis Straker had also received assurance from the developers that the playing field will be upgraded as promised.

“Once things get going, we are going to sign a Memorandum of Understanding among the developers, the Sports Council, Touch Masters and the community”, Crick stated.

As part of the overall construction of the field, the agreement, which to this point has been non contractual, should see the grassing of the field, the establishment of a pavilion, the laying down of three pitches, one for Football, one for Cricket and the other for Rugby.

“They plan to put down two club houses, change rooms, an administrative centre, restaurant, a health area, light and fence the field, bleachers and a fenced children’s playground”, said Crick as he listed the proposed facilities.

Crick said that Touch Masters, a grouping of the Morris brothers: Pete, Des and Stanley, of football fame, have indicated that they are interested in building a dormitory, as part of their intention of setting up a Football Academy there.

The use of Buccament Bay Playing Field made sporting headlines here in 2006, when the Stanford initiative started to bloom, and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association was the recipient of US$100,000 to develop a facility here.

However, the developers then interceded.

Crick, who is also the First Vice President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association (SVGCA), said that he is aware the monies will now be used on “developing the cricket pitches themselves”.

Crick also pointed out that the talk which had once been bandied about that the Buccament Playing Field, whenever developed, will be nearly exclusive to the cricket association, is no longer the case.

As with the NSC, the developers have partnered with the Penniston community in the establishment of a playing facility there.

A member of the steering committee of the Penniston Playing Field, Cerlian Russell, said that thus far the facility has been graded and the grassing is the next step.

He said that with the current situation, the next best bet will be for the people, along with the Social Investment Fund, to partner in ensuring that the facility is completed.

Russell stated that many of the plans may be scaled down in light of the recent administrative developments. He pointed to first getting the field to playable conditions.

The original contractors of the project, Ridgeview Construction, were dismissed earlier this year by Harlequin Hotel and Resorts which has seen the work at the Buccama come to a standstill.

Work is set to recommence in earnest January 2009.