Jamaica
News - Real Estate - Projects (January
4, 2005)
$Multimillion sports complex for Sligoville
A $222-million sports complex will be
built in Sligoville, St. Catherine, beginning in five months time.
The multi-faceted facility on which
construction is set to run from May through a 10-month period, comes as a gift
to the country from the Chinese Government.
This was revealed by Foreign and Trade Minister,
K.D. Knight, at the signing of the design contract with Chinese Ambassador, Zhao
Zhenyu, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' conference room yesterday.
SPECIAL CEREMONY
"This is indeed a special ceremony, this is the way I like to start the new
year," said Knight. "This is a gift from the government and people of
China to the government and people of Jamaica and in particular the constituent
of east central St. Catherine," said Knight, who is also Member of
Parliament for east central St. Catherine.
"We are indeed very grateful to the
Government of China," he added.
According to the minister, the sport complex
will be constructed at "one of the most beautiful sites in Jamaica"
and by extension the Caribbean and the world and will provide short and long
term employment for Jamaicans.
The complex will be located in Sligoville square
and the present police station, post office and the health centre will be
relocated to make room for the massive structure that will include a football
field, running track and cricket field alongside each other.
SEATING
The football field will seat 1,500 persons, with a 400-metre running track and
the cricket oval will accommodate 1,200. The netball and basketball courts will
seat 600 patrons.
"It is so well-placed that we believe it
will also enhance the area for eco-tourism and sports tourism. It will serve the
wider St. Catherine area and we also hope that it will be used as a specialised
sports camp all year round," said Knight.
"This complex will be at the
international level as a standard practice field for cricket, and with the World
Cup in 2007 we expect that this sports field will be used for this
purpose."
He added: "The extension that is necessary
means that the existing buildings housing the post office and the police station
will have to be moved. And so two brand new buildings (post office and station)
will be erected.
"It is going to be an important part of
the landscape of East Central St. Catherine, of St. Catherine and Jamaica.
Importantly it is located very close to where the first free village was
established. The entire Sligoville area is of great historical importance and
this will be part of that history."
Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Zhenyu said
the project really started when Madam Wu Yi, Vice-Premier of the Council of
State and the third highest ranking government official, visited Jamaica in
2003.
Madame Wu Yi had repeated statistics about the
US$-billion size and value of China-Caribbean trade and her government's
determination to increase and improve relations in all aspects between her
country and the region.
She was approached by the Jamaican government and
she obliged.
"I am happy to be here to sign this
design contract. This is an important project," said Ambassador Zhenyu, who
took office in April 2004.
"Last year a group of Chinese came here to design the project and I can
promise you according to Chinese plan it will take only 10 months for the
Chinese to finish the project Chinese speed," he stressed.
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