DIRECTOR of Sport within the National Sports Commission (NSC) Neil Kumar last Wednesday informed members of the media at a briefing held at the Carifesta Sports Complex, that the National Aquatic Centre (NAC) is a facility for all Guyanese. Kumar sought to clear the air about matters concerning the pool while he clarified issues in relation to the Camp Street-based Colgrain Pool.
It was clearly stated by Kumar that the NAC and Colgrain Pool are the only two pools that fall under the supervision of the NSC. He called on owners of other pools in Guyana to put them into use for the public.
“We are urging other pools around the country to be put to public use. When I became the Director of Sport in the NSC, none of the pools was operating properly or even made available to the public,” said Kumar.
He said there was no Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) established at the time, but representation was made to the late President Dr Cheddi Jagan, who later made the Castellani Pool accessible and available to the associations, through the Office of the President.
In relation to the utilisation of the pools, Kumar reported that the pools are public ones, but are administered by the NSC and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport which have rules to ensure that they are used and regulated properly, adding “We are very strict with how we operate the pools.”
He noted that over 1 500 persons use Colgrain Pool, a computerised pool which operates from 06:00hrs to 20:30hrs on a monthly basis,
“Four registered clubs use the pool two times a week for two hours, the Special Needs School from the East Bank, an Orphanage from Plaisance, other persons with disabilities and PYARG use the pool. Two swimming classes for beginners and two adult classes are also conducted at the pool under the direction of the Japanese swimming coach.”
Kumar further stated that the NAC is fully utilised by Guyana’s elite swimmers, informing that “you have to be strong swimmers to swim at the Aquatic Centre; we do not have the warm-up pool where beginners or individuals who are in the initial stages of swimming could swim and this pool calls for professional swimmers.”
Commenting on the procedure to gain access to the Colgrain Pool, Kumar said that interested individuals can simply apply for its use, while in respect to the Aquatic Centre, Kumar said that he is very meticulous since there are no lifeguards at present to supervise the use by persons.
He added that they are in the process of training lifeguards, but until then he will remain careful since he does not want to be held responsible for any mishap, “I want to make it clear, this pool belongs to Guyanese.”
The warm-up pool for the Aquatic Centre which was surveyed according to Kumar will cost $75M for construction, while other infrastructural work including the installation of lights to brighten up the facility is expected to be carried out.
In closing, Kumar revealed that they will be looking to host the swimming segment of the 2014 Junior CARIFTA Games.