Track and field coach supports NSC manager’s view

Track and Field coach Michael “Lord Have Mercy” Ollivierre shares the view of manager of the National Sports Council (NSC) Jomadean May that St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is not ready for a national stadium.

May was quoted in the August 23 edition of SEARCHLIGHT: “We are saying we want a stadium, we are saying we need a stadium. I do agree that we want a stadium; I do agree we need a stadium, but unfortunately we are not ready for a stadium, not with this thinking.”{{more}}

This statement would not have gone down well in several quarters; however, Ollivierre has concurred with May. “I am saying too, we are not ready for a national stadium…. We have this walk on mentality to our field,” Ollivierre said.

“Are we willing to pay for the use of a national stadium…. Can we maintain a national stadium?” Ollivierre questioned.

Making reference to the Arnos Vale Playing Field, SVG’s best sporting facility, Ollivierre reasoned, “Look what we are doing now, scrambling to get things in place for the St Vincent [and the Grenadines] versus USA (football) match this Friday… Look at the Double-Decker stand, when can that ever be filled?”

Ollivierre, who spent several years coaching track and field in Jamaica, and who has been one of the trumpeters for a synthetic track to be erected here in SVG, maintains his stance for a track in preference to a full national stadium facility.

“We need a track, not a national stadium,” Ollivierre reinforced.

The building of a national stadium has been one of the long standing campaign promises of the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP).

Breaking of ground at the proposed site at Diamond, architectural designs, the installation of a national stadium committee, as well as the establishment of an office at the Administrative Centre at the Arnos Vale Playing Field have all taken place.

Additionally, the sum of US$ 1.5 million was said to have been received from the late Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, towards feasibility works for the national stadium.

The promotion of a national stadium for SVG has traded place from being “on the front burner”, and “on the back burner,” according to successive ministers who have held the portfolio of “Sports” in their ministerial configurations.

Among those who have preached the possibility of a national stadium are Mike Browne, Clayton Burgin, Frederick Stephenson and the incumbent Cecil Mc Kie.

The ULP’s Youth Manifesto, which was published ahead of the December 9, 2015 General Elections, said the following: “Over the next five years, the ULP government will continue the building/ rehabilitation of sports facilities at community levels and nationally; in this regard, the construction of the planned National Stadium will be effected.”(RT)