PLANS for a new squash court are under way as the contract for the first phase of the $20.35M structure was signed yesterday by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony and Romell Jagroop’s General Construction Services at the Minister’s Main Street office.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, presents contract to one of the contractors for the construction of the squash court.

Minister Anthony stated that an unused building at Woolford Avenue is to be reconstructed into a sports building and as such, the squash court will be located there and will facilitate schoolchildren in the surrounding area.

He said that there has already been the completion of two tarmacs at the area and there are plans to establish two lawn tennis courts also, but this will be done gradually as funds become available.

The Minister posited that this would be the first publicly owned squash court and this initiative was developed through discussions held between President Bharat Jagdeo and the Squash Association of Guyana.

Minister Anthony said that all facilities developed at the site will be managed by the ministry. However, associations will be given time to utilise it. Schoolchildren will be beneficiaries also.

Utilisation cost will be examined since the main idea of the venture is to make the sport and sport area easily accessible and available for usage by the public.

The Minister added that all national teams will be given priority as it relates to utilising the areas and equipment and that in the second phase of the project, there will be the establishment of a badminton court and resource centre.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Alfred King, stated that the squash court should be completed within six months and there will also be the establishment of bleachers and a practice court which cost over $8M.

The contract for the bleachers was signed between the Ministry and Fyffe Construction Services and the contract for the practice court was signed between the Ministry and N & R Engineering and Contracting Establishment.

King said that the duration for the two projects is three months and will complement the introduction of the new squash court.

He added that the sports facilities and equipment which are being developed at the Woolford Avenue location will be easily accessible for practice by all national teams. (GINA).