No timeline for completion of swimming pool in VG
A resident at the Government’s ‘On the Road’ meeting at the Catholic Community Centre in Virgin Gorda on May 29, 2013 asked when the project was going to be finished, however, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith did not commit himself to giving a timeline for the completion of the pool.
“The project is continuing but I think they were waiting on some assessments and some costs before they go down to the final stage,” were the words of the Premier in response to the question.
Construction of the FINA and Olympic standard swimming pool started in April of 2007, however, after reaching a stage of about 60-70 percent complete, work has not progressed for some time due to various reasons previously given by President of the BVI Swimming Federation, Mr Verne Wheatley.
The pool, which would be 25 metres in length, with 10 lanes and a dive end, is an initiative of the Virgin Gorda Community and was also partially funded through donations.
The Virgin Gorda Charitable Trust is responsible for realising the project.
In 2011, Mr Wheatley had disclosed to Virgin Islands News Online that some $200,000 was raised towards the project; however, funding had taken a blow. “We initially expected that (payments would be made) over a 4-5 year period but based on how the economy is it has slowed down and dropped our revenue quite a bit. That has an impact on our progress as well.”
The BVI Swimming Federation in particular eagerly awaits the completion of the Olympic size pool so that the Territory could be considered to host certain regional meets including the annual OECS Swimming Championships.
Meanwhile, the non-completion of the pool after some six years and counting doesn’t seem to be too much of a bother for the National Democratic Party (NDP) administration since, according to Minister for Education and Culture, Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, Government is moving towards installing a rubberised track on the sister island.
Virgin Gorda, According to Hon. Walwyn, has a growing population of young people who are interested in sports and it is important that those young persons also have the same opportunities as their peers on Tortola. “If a young man or woman is striving to be a greater sprinter they should not have to travel to Tortola to train,” Hon. Walwyn disclosed at the meeting on May 29, 2013.
The Minister responsible for sports then disclosed that his Ministry has begun to identify areas for a proper rubberised track and field facility that can house additional sports similar to the A.O. Shirley Ground.
“We are looking at the present field next to Bregado Flax. We would also like to hear from this community your suggestions as we would then need to find an alternative spot to host the Easter Festival. Fifty thousand dollars was placed in the budget this year as seed money for the development of the track,” Hon. Walwyn said.
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9 Responses to “No timeline for completion of swimming pool in VG”
the completion and it appears to be the most impossible thing to do.
It is my understanding there are some many swimming organizations regional and international awaiting the completion and no one except for Virgin Gorda Cgaritable Trust seems to understand.
I suggest they seek other sources and complete it and totally ignore Government during the commissioning which I know will be a big event for the country. It was ignored from the very representative who is a member of Virgin Gorda Charitable Trust. This is very sad for the young kids of the BVI.
Propsect Reef pool has been closed for the swimmers more that a year now and nothing is done about it, what a shame. The pool needs fixing for so long the swimmers are home sitting down and Goverment is doing nothing about it. The parents needs to go on the radio with it.
Every country is busy getting swimming programs, bvi is busy ignoring it. Young people my A&&. The kids
was doing so good I cant beleive my eyes.