Minister of Sports and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe says the scheduled June 30 date for the completion of the refurbishment of the Hasely Crawford Stadium and its handing over to the government for the upcoming Seventh Commonwealth Youths Games (CYG) dubbed “Trinbago 2023” from August 14 to 18 is still on stream.
Minister Cudjoe was speaking following a tour of the Mucurapo Road main sports facility on Friday which will host the opening ceremony as well as the track and field segment of the the five-day programme which will cater to athletes between the ages of 14 to 18 competing in seven sports—swimming, athletics, cycling (road race, time trial and track, rugby sevens, triathlon, and beach volleyball for both boys and girls, while the Fast5 netball will be contested by girls only
A confident Cudjoe said, “We are still carded for the June 30th completion date, we want to do trials in July and so far not only for this facility but for all other facilities we are all aiming with a completion date of June 30.
“So far we have gotten to about 8o percent completion and once we continue at this pace, and as a matter-of-fact UDECOTT intends to ramp up as it relates to the working hours and getting more persons on board to ensure that we make the deadlines.”
“So I’m pleased especially with the track because that was an area of concern for us. We brought in World Athletics and specialists to come to see what we have here and to guide us in restoring the track so I’m happy we were able to do that.
“Th scoreboard came in last night (Thursday) and we are doing the works with the seats, so I feel quite pleased that the Hasely Crawford Stadium, which is 41 years old, as old as I am is going to have that full overhaul or full refurbishment and be restored to its former glory.
Cudjoe noted that the work being done should not only be looked at getting the venue ready for the CYG but for sports in general.
She said, “This is not only for Commonwealth Youth Games, but for schools’ sports, for football for all different sporting disciplines, and I think the people of T&T have been waiting on this for quite some time. And I’m happy that we can deliver this as a legacy project to people that T&T within the $80 million budget so far, so good.
With regards to the upkeep and maintenance of the facility, Cudjo said, “If you are putting in $80 million to refurbish then we have to do better as it relates to maintenance. We have a new maintenance system that’s being developed by the Sport Company of T&T (SporTT), not only for the Hasely Crawford Stadium but for all the facilities under the Ministry of Sport and Community Development watch. So, we expect new energy, a new way of managing our facilities and maintaining our facilities, as soon as that plan is completed and implemented.
In terms of the legacy being created, Cudjoe said, “I think not only for athletics, but also for football, and the different sporting disciplines that use the Hasely Crawford Stadium right now.
|You have sporting groups utilising other facilities, “Of course, the Hasely Crawford Stadium is the main for athletics, but we also have work going on at the Dwight Yorke Stadium and activities taking place at Dwight Yorke Stadium.
“This year we’ll also looking at starting refurbishment works at Larry Gomes Stadium (Malabar), and Mannie Ramjohn Stadium (Marabella).
“We are starting with the lights because we feel like that’s the most urgent part of the refurbishment to be done and we ramp up you know fixing these facilities because we want not only Hasely Crawford to be the place for athletics.
‘As we go out into schools to come September, we want them to have access to more facilities and better tracks so that they can facilitate and host their school games. So, we also look forward to doing work at the Ato Boldon Stadium also. So, we’re refurbishing what we have for major sporting activities. But also, to ramp up community sports and utilize sports as a development tool for communities and for schools.
Asked if she had any feedback from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Cudjoe said, “So far, so good. He wants to make sure that we employ the right strategies so that we can deliver on time not only for the CYG but to ensure that after having the trials, if there are any changes to be made that it could be done, so I think that he’s pleased by what he has seen today.
Commenting on the state of the Jean Pierre Complex, Cudjoe said, “The Jean Pierre Complex wasn’t a part of the refurbishment for this fiscal year. We wanted to focus on the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Of course, we’re looking at doing some face-lifting at the Jean Pierre Complex in time for the games and then for the next fiscal year go into the full works over at the Jean Pierre Complex because it’s about time that we restore the Jean Pierre Complex to its former glory and bring it up to the international standard, especially to support or netballers who have been crying out for the refurbishment. So we’re doing that work for the new fiscal year, I’m not going to promise you that for this fiscal that would not be true, stated Cudjoe.
For the CYG which is expected to involve more than 70 countries, some 5,000 hotel room nights across six hotels in T&T including the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Radisson, Cara Hotels, Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort, Mt. Irvine Bay Resort and Comfort Inn and Suites are also expected to be utilised.