–track to be laid by October 2018

THE construction of an 8-lane 400 metre synthetic track is on target, with two out of the four phases being completed.

The third phase which includes the procurement process has commenced, according to Minister with responsibility for Sports, Dr. George Norton who visited Linden with a delegation of sports officials on Wednesday and presented to the Linden community the preparatory works, including designing, which has been completed.

The residents were also told of the plethora of benefits that will be derived from the completion of the tract which will be constructed at the Bayroc Community Centre ground.
Giving a detailed presentation to Linden officials, students, teachers, coaches, stakeholders and concerned residents was Assistant Director of Sport, Miss Melissa Richards-Dow who via a PowerPoint presentation, explained the work that has been completed and what is expected to commence, once the procurement process is completed.

Dow explained that the process required clear planning before implementation, since the construction of a synthetic track is a very technical and specialised project. DWS, a German company, was hired to complete the first two phases.

The first part of the construction will include security fencing and the placement of the synthetic track on the basin of the Bayroc Ground.
The development of the pavilion and the additional space surrounding it is a project that will be scheduled for a later time. “No homes will be affected; additional facilities will be put in place for roadways and it is expected that the general aesthetics of Wismar-Linden will be improved,” Dow said.

The track will also have the necessary amenities for all field events and the middle will be developed into a world class football field. “This was designed with the intention of having everybody involved; to have everybody included in the air of social cohesion.

“Whichever contractor is awarded the project will have further consultation with BSW architects, who will return to Guyana when the phase commences. The expectation is that synthetic material will be laid in Region 10 by October of 2018” Dow revealed. This process is expected to take between 12-21 days, barring rain.

EMPLOYMENT FOR LINDENERS
In addition to the track benefiting particularly the athletes of Linden, during its construction, residents will also benefit from employment. “Persons will benefit from employment; persons who would have the opportunity to work on this track, your skill set is very critical, your ability to learn more things will be enhanced, the facility is for the athletes, is for the community, but is also for the working man and woman,” Dow related.

With Linden being described as the hub of sports and athletics in Guyana, it is expected that the synthetic track will boost this record even more since training will be enhanced, given the availability of a world class athletic facility.

Dow related that the athletes’ feedback from utilising the Leonora Synthetic Track at the 2017 National School’s Championship was very positive, so similar experiences will be garnered from Linden athletes.

Lindeners expressed appreciation for finally seeing fruition to the project. “It is indeed a great day for Linden and we have to say thanks to this Administration for bringing us to this point,” one Lindener said.

Concerns were, however, raised about the management of the facility by residents. Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira, reiterated that a new management body will be appointed by the residents of the community, since the track belongs to the community.
“The Management Committee will be determined by the people, because this is our facility and we need to charter the way forward,” Figueira said .

NOT BY CHANCE LINDEN WAS CHOSEN
Minister George Norton in his presentation revealed that it is not by chance that Linden was chosen for the construction of a state-of-the-art sporting facility, given the tremendous talent that has been coming out of Linden.

He charged the residents to take whatever steps necessary to ensure that Linden remains the hub of Guyana’s sporting arena.
“That hub can become a hole if we don’t be careful and we could all fall into it. We cannot afford at the national level to allow that to happen. It is therefore on all of us to take whatever steps that are necessary for us to nip whatever is going to come against us,” he said.

Norton encouraged sports officials in Linden to involve all of Region 10 in training and athletic development since talent can be found in the outlying areas as well.
He reiterated that the town has the 100% support of his ministry since the athletes are special and outstanding.