Perimeter wall to be reconstructed around A.O. Shirley Recreational Grounds
Rehabilitation continues at the A.O. Shirley Recreational Grounds with the perimeter walls set to be installed in the near future.
This assurance was given by Director of the BVI Recreational Trust Stephen Payne who told BVI News the contracts to erect the perimeter walls were signed on Wednesday, May 15.
He said that due to the recent occurrence of theft and vandalism plaguing the facilities, the new design of the wall structure will differ to what existed previously.
“The institution of this new wall should be of adequate height to have some deterrence and to provide a higher level of security in relations to persons gaining access with ease. Once those walls are constructed, we will then post the requisite signs about loitering and persons trying to break in and enter, etcetera,” Payne said.
Government recently opened an invitation for tender for the construction of the wall.
The Director also explained that the next phase will be the restoration of the existing stands.
“In the future, we intend to develop additional stands and to have a proper facility where we can have proper concessions, a restroom for patrons, restrooms for athletes, wait rooms, managers’ facilities as well as storage for the track components and events.”
Work to be done on other facilities
Director Payne also revealed that nine basketball courts throughout the territory will be resurfaced and will receive the installation of new backboards.
“Right now there are plans to rehabilitate a number of the community-based courts. The Premier graciously found funding for nine locations –Diamond Estate, Carrot Bay, West End, Baugher’s Bay, Greenland to name a few, where we are going to address as soon as possible,” Payne said.
While no timeline has been given for the full rehabilitation of the Multipurpose Sports facility, Payne said: “We’ve had cosmetic repairs done to the facility to enable access and use.”
Earlier this year, the track at the A.O.Shirley Grounds has been completed thanks to the joint contributions of Panam Sports, the IAAF and the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA).
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Priorities, please. It won’t look right if the high school students are still doing half days, wandering around town, but the AO Shirley track is back to normal. I know it’s different departments, but it won’t be right.
” I know it’s different departments, but it won’t be right.” Seriously? You said it yourself, IT’S DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS! I want the High school to be completed as well but are you saying that other projects should go on whole until then?
Sometimes I wish people would realize what they say before they actually say it.. The high school reconstruction started about a month ago and yet here you are complaining about the track being fixed and how the government has their priorities set. If you would read and be in tuned. You would know that the L shaped building is scheduled to be functional by the start of the new school year
If the foolish commenter had any sense or was more informed they would see that the school was the bigger priority. The contract for the A.O.Shirley wall was just signed on May 15th. The contract for the High School was signed on April 18th. Government even waived the tender to expedite the process even though some were fussing.
Remember the good old days when we could just switch $8Million form a sewerage project to a Ports project and $7Million Dollars for an airline just to line some peoples pockets. Ah the good old days. Why can’t we just keep switching money around and use the $5Million that this wall will cost – to build a school? It would be the same but different somehow.
Ayo please don’t use baldhead’s method
There in nothing wrong with the shift program. There are other Caribbean nationals that does this. What should be done is for the Education department should arrange for a program for students that has half day to occupy their time.