PRIOR to demitting office as President of Guyana in November 2011, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo at the commissioning of the National Aquatic Centre which houses the country’s Olympic-sized 50m swimming pool, promised to give the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), a warm up/warm down pool.

On Friday August 16 2013, the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, inked a contract to the tune of $37 494, 125 with D&S Construction Company, for the laying of the foundation of the pool which is expected to be operational within the first quarter of next year.
In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport yesterday, Director of Sport within the National Sports Commission (NSC) Neil Kumar said he was satisfied with the progress of work on the foundation for the pool, despite the inclement weather hampering things.
“Yes, I am satisfied with what I have seen and I must say that the contractors are doing a fantastic job, despite being plagued by the weather, as both the Ministry of Sport and NSC are monitoring their progress on a daily basis,” stated Kumar.
He added, “All equipment from Myrtha Pools is in place for the construction of the pool at the completion of the foundation, so we are waiting for that day, as the workers are presently going through that process, while we do expect the pool to be operational early next year.”
Quizzed on any discussions the NSC may have had with GASA as it relates to the pool, Kumar replied in the negative while adding, “We have asked GASA for a programme both long- and short-term at the commencement of the year and to date, none has been forthcoming from them.
“There are some members within the Association with whom we have a good working relationship, such as Dr Karen Pilgrim and Stephanie Fraser, while the Cuban coach is doing a fantastic job as well, but as it relates to their programme, we have no idea what it would be like.”
He, however, mentioned that a development session to follow up the Lifeguard training seminar which was conducted by Canada-based Guyanese Patrick D’Almada, in association with GASA and which was a success story earlier this year, will be held at the completion of the warm up/warm down pool.
“We are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the safety of one and all who will be using both the Olympic-sized and warm up/warm down pools, hence there will be a refresher and developmental course under the tuition of Mr D’Almada, at the completion of the second pool,” Kumar stated.
At the completion of the warm up/warm down pool, Guyana will be in a position to host international meets here, since having the facility is a requirement of FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation/International Swimming Federation) for a country to host such meets.

(By Calvin Roberts)