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VI could host 22nd OECS Swimming C/ships if pool is completed

President of the BVI Swimming Federation Verne Wheatley.
Sisters Elinah and Amara Phillips walked away with eight medals for the VI at the 21st OECS Swimmign Championships held in St. Lucia in November.
Sisters Elinah and Amara Phillips walked away with eight medals for the VI at the 21st OECS Swimmign Championships held in St. Lucia in November.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The Virgin Islands could make more swimming history next year if the Olympic size pool in Virgin Gorda is completed as the Territory could host the OECS Swimming Championships for the first time ever.

This was disclosed by President of the BVI Swimming Federation, Verne Wheatley, who told Virgin Islands News Online that the choice is between Antigua and the Virgin Islands to host the championship and this would be voted on next year February.

The BVI Swimming Federation has already had much to smile about after recent success at the 21st OECS Swimming Championship, which was held in St Lucia from November 4 – 6, 2011.

The swimming sisters Elinah and Amarah Phillip shared 8 Medals including 4 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze.

Elinah also beat the time set by Tuesday Watts in 2002 in winning the Gold Medal in the 9-10 yr old Girls 50m Free style Event. Her winning time was 31.19 seconds beating the old mark by 0.64 seconds.

Meanwhile, Wheatley is being optimistic that the pool would be completed by May of next year.

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 Mr. Wheatley. He is hoping that work would resume in late January.

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 is being funded through donations.

The Virgin Gorda Charitable Trust is responsible for realising the project. The committee comprises of persons from Virgin Gorda as well as expatriate homeowners who have made commitments to contribute one week’s rental per annum of their units to the cause.

Wheatley had previously disclosed that some $200,000 was raised towards the project; however, funding has now 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 slow down and dropped our revenue quite a bit. That has an impact on our progress as well.”

A faithful contributor is the Leverick Bay Resort, which continues to donate proceeds from its annual Poker Run.

8 Responses to “VI could host 22nd OECS Swimming C/ships if pool is completed”

  • rat tail (14/12/2011, 15:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i am sure the NDP will make it happen...
  • No money in the Kitty (14/12/2011, 23:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What part of Government don't have any money don't you people understand. Government is financially strapped. If the community wants the pool built then the community need to come together and raise the funding to do so. We have become a community of leeches, stop depending on Government for everything.
  • vingin islands (15/12/2011, 00:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    go Elinah and Amara Phillips...keep mekin we proud
  • frequent visitor (15/12/2011, 16:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The prevoius Government miss the boat on this I dont see this Government doin the same. This is sport tourism at its best and stevie wonder and ray charles couldnt see this. It tells you where the country was regarding sports tourism and young people.
    • NO MOney (15/12/2011, 23:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The previous Government made substantial contributions to this project. The reason it has halted is because there is no money. The Government is BROKE. There is NO MORE MONEY FOR PEOPLE TO WASTE
      • Oh Plz (16/12/2011, 15:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        NOT A DIME they say it was a NDP ting and wasnt touching it and so they did.


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