SVGFF and NTech sign $750,000 contract to install lights at Brighton

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) and local company NTech have signed a contract valued at approximately EC$750,000 to light the Brighton Playing Field during a ceremony held at the Brighton Technical Centre on October 9.

President of the SVGFF, Carl Dickson in his remarks, at the ceremony, said lighting of the Brighton facility is being funded by the international governing body for football, FIFA, through its philanthropic arm, the FIFA Foundation. Dickson also indicated that representatives from FIFA are scheduled to visit SVG, on completion of the historic project, to witness the official turning on of the lights at Brighton.

Project Consultant at the SVGFF, Fidel Neverson said the construction phase of the project is expected to last six months. According to Neverson, energy efficient LED lights would be installed on four poles standing at 22 meters or 72 ft. high with seven light fixtures on each pole. Davon Cato, Owner/Manager of NTech says three companies have joined forces to execute the contract initiative contact. The other two are Cato’s Heavy Equipment Rentals and Unique Alliance.

Minister with responsibility for sport, Frederick Stevenson also witnessed the contract signing. He said the installation of flood lights at the Brighton Playing Field would allow more athletes to compete in late evening matches, and ultimately attract more patrons to view the games.

Stevenson said government has extended the lease of the Brighton Playing Field, to the SVGFF, for another 25 years, while noting that the facility is one of the most used fields in the country.

He said the East St. George representative Camillo Gonsalves, ensured that the revised lease agreement took into consideration the need for community access to the facility. The Sport minister also alluded to the planned upgrade and lighting of the Arnos Vale Sports Complex and the Cumberland Playing field while commenting on SVG’s preparation to co-host the 2024 men’s T20 Cricket World Cup.

Meanwhile, government Senator, Ashelle Morgan addressed the contract signing ceremony on behalf of Parliamentary Representative for East St George Camillo Gonsalves, who was out of state on official duties. Morgan welcomed the contract to light the facility in her community. She also commended the government and the SVGFF for the work done to upgrade the property, thus making it more suitable for sporting activities.

In late 2022 the SVGFF secured USD$400,000 in funding through the FIFA Foundation Recovery Programme to finance the upgrade of the federation’s Technical Centre at Brighton.

The installation of lights at the Brighton facility was also included in the project as part of efforts to revitalize the sport locally, following the devastative impact of the April, 2021 eruptions of La Soufriere volcano.