PRESIDENTIAL Adviser on Youth Empowerment Odinga Lumumba lashed out at a Kaietuer News article with regards to proposed rehabilitation work to be done to the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) basketball hard court. According to Lumumba who held a press conference last Saturday, the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) had approached President Bharatt Jagdeo during one of the President’s outreach programme, soliciting help to have the lone basketball venue in the mining community refurbished.

Following their approach, a notice for a tender was published to which a small contractor from within the mining community was awarded the contract and was scheduled to commence same but was unable to do so since he encountered problems with his paving machine.

“We have done our part by allocating the funds for the project, and it’s now up to the RDC to take up the responsibility to ensure the work begins, but according to reports, the contractor has a problem with the machine.

I think it was unscrupulous by the reporter to publish the article without finding out what is the problem for not having the project started on time, instead of blaming us,” Lumumba lamented.

He continued to state, “It is a small contractor we awarded the project to, but we understand a problem occurred recently but hopefully the work will begin shortly, but if he can’t get going by next week then we will intervene. We awarded the contract to him because we want to give a small contractor the job and not a big company, hence the contractor was selected several months ago and we are hoping he can start soon.”

Lumumba further expressed disappointment at the way the article was published, calling it an attack on the government while revealing that the writer was ‘unscrupulous’.

The construction of a 60-feet bleacher, resurfacing the court and construction of an official scorers’ area will start shortly according to Lumumba, because it is indeed long overdue, but if the machine cannot be ready for the job soon, then his government will intervene to seek a new contractor.

Lumumba also took the opportunity to say that work was done by the Government in Linden without any interruption, but this new issue has taken place via a political influence to tackle the government.

Meanwhile, the project was given to LABA at their request during President Bharrat Jagdeo’s outreach programme in Linden earlier this year, but according to the report in the article which was published last Saturday, the stalled project was affecting the holistic plan by the LABA, a statement that was questioned by Lumumba.

“Before they approached us, where were they playing their basketball? They approached us for help, we decided we will do so, to which we sent out the bids, selected a contractor who encountered problems with one of his machines.
Who told them to take down their rings before the contractor commenced his work? Instead of questioning the credibility of the Government, the reporter should have called the RDC and enquired what was going on with regards to the construction of the court” stated Lumumba.
A calmer Lumumba was asked to comment on the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) organized countrywide Inter-block football competition and without hesitation, give it a thumbs up, calling it a great community based activity.
“I would readily support any community based sporting activity or project that can help keep our youths off the corner and even bridges. Added to that, some of the talent coming out of the tournament can be spotted to represent a club or even the country, so it’s a good thing.”
He urged the MCYS to continue fostering the youths in the various communities countrywide through such programmes that is the brainchild of Parliamentary Secretary within the MCYS Steve Ninvalle, who also wears the cap of president of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA).