Auction off Tarouba Stadium

As you have recently reported, the Minister of Sport has indicated that he is still agonising over what to do with the infamous and still unfinished Tarouba Stadium. He has revealed that the current estimate for the completion of this unfortunate project is $180 million, however we all know that there are bound to be substantial overruns. A final completion cost of over $500 million would not be unexpected, and of course after that the Government would be saddled with huge annual operating costs.

Minister Roberts has suggested that “the people” might perhaps need to decide whether to convert the facility to an alternative use, for example a hospital, cultural centre, or a trade fair, arts or business centre. In this light, as one of “the people” of this country, I would like to suggest a different approach altogether. The Tarouba Stadium should be sold at auction, as is where is, to the highest bidder.

Attractive terms might be offered, so that the new owner could pay over 15 or 20 years. I am sure there would be plenty of interested bidders, including churches, sports clubs, impresarios, foreign traders and savvy entrepreneurs. In one fell swoop, this ill-considered millstone could be removed from the neck of the Government and ultimately the taxpayers of this country.

Gary N Voss
via e-mail