The time has come for the public to say what they want done with the still unfinished Tarouba Sporting Complex, which has consumed $1.1 billion from budgets since 2007 and now requires $180 million more, says Sport Minister Anil Roberts. “Maybe at this point we should have to let the public decide what they want it to be—it’s their money spent. Let them  call it,” Roberts said. He spoke recently as his ministry prepared for the upcoming 2012-2013 budget to be delivered on October 1.

In the 2011-2012 budget Roberts’ Sports Ministry received an allocation of about $415 million and was not among the top five ministries receiving the highest allocations. Those were Health, Education, Works, National Security and Agriculture. Allocations ranged from $8.7 billion for health to $1.9 billion for agriculture. His ministry has requested funding for ongoing sporting centre projects, including 90-plus national recreation grounds across T&T.

Roberts said one of his concerns for the upcoming year—which takes the PP administration to mid-term and elections in Tobago and within municipal corporations—is the Tarouba complex. This was initiated under the Manning administration and became a target of PP’s election attacks concerning alleged overspending. Roberts said the last word to his Ministry from project manager Udecott was that another $180 million was needed to finish the stadium.

He said: “When that report comes in we’ll have to have a Cabinet discussion on the direction to go. We’ve already spent $1.1 billion since it started to date and now we’ve been advised another $180 million is needed to finish it. “We need to define where we want to go. Obviously the people may have to decide and we may have to involve them to say what to do with it.

“It may be argued that the additional $180 million required could be better spent in communities to do projects for people so we need to give people a chance to say what they want done with the complex. What may be the alternatives? Should we use it as a  hospital, as a cultural centre, or a venue for trade fairs or arts or business centre?”

Roberts said Udecott’s report on the complex would provide an update on the building’s status, including whether it has deteriorated and what  else is needed. He said a lot still needs to be done to complete the centre. Yesterday, Udecott’s CEO Jearlean John, said in an interview, a structural engineering firm was engaged to do a complete update on the structural integrity of the complex. This followed concerns raised in the Uff Commission’s report.

The firm’s assessment of any deterioration and its recommendations will dictate what has to be done to complete the  centre. She added:“We can’t hand over an old, dated complex. So it could be six months to a year before it is ready to be handed over.” Roberts said his ministry has been forced to repay a $497 million loan—at six per cent interest—on the  complex. Some of the funding for sports in the last budget went towards this, he said. Roberts said more than $75 million had been paid in interest alone since he became minister.

Roberts said the ministry’s 2013 focus included three national centres, the aquatic centre and national velodrome, construction of the first of eight regional sports centres plus basketball and squash courts. He said some funding would come from loans which will not be included in the budget.

By Gail Alexander

Source: www.guardian.co.tt