No track for athletics; but why are we here yet again?

They say history has a way of repeating itself. That said, one would think that people would do all in their power to ensure the outcome, the second time around, is not the same as the first, especially in adverse circumstances.

The year was 2013, 11 years ago, when the then Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Education were in a quandary over the staging of the annual Barbados Secondary Schools’ Athletic Championships (BSSAC).

At the time, the National Stadium was closed to facilitate work on a new track and there was no Ryan Brathwaite Track to use as an alternative.

The sports minister at the time, Stephen Lashley, promised that upon the stadium’s reopening, Barbados would have a refurbished National Stadium and a spanking new international track. He added that the innovative drainage system that encircles the track, as well as the upgrading of the inner field, would add to the pristine conditions that the fans and competitors would enjoy when the total work was done.

Sadly, though, that meant that the 2013 schools’ athletic season would be a casualty much like this year’s is threatening to be.

Back then, the Physical Education Teachers Association of Barbados (PETAB) met with both ministries and a decision was made to have the Barbados National Secondary Schools’ Championships (BNSSC) at Weymouth, St Michael, home to the Police Sports Club.

The name was not the only thing that changed. Although the 22 secondary schools were divided into two zones, less than 22 schools actually competed in reformatted competition. It was a tense time and some coaches felt strongly about having their athletes compete on grass.

That was understandable in 2013 since at the time the lone athletic track on the island was at the National Stadium. But why are we here yet again in 2024?

The National Stadium remains an eyesore and is in a state of disrepair. How is it then that authorities did not have the foresight to sit down with the management of the University of the West Indies (UWI) to ensure that the work being carried out on the Ryan Brathwaite Track was done before this sports season? Training on uneven grass surfaces cannot enhance an athlete’s performance. Are we really content to have our young runners compete on grass?

The organisers of the National Primary Schools Athletic Championship (NAPSAC) have been forced to adopt a format that will eliminate the support of spectators, who are mostly parents, from watching and supporting their children during competition.

A field event competition will be held at the Alexandra and Coleridge and Parry schools. The grounds cannot accommodate spectators. Are we okay with this split format for NAPSAC?

The government has announced ambitious plans to develop 15 mini stadiums across the country with 750 to 1 000 seats each. But, for some reason, we still cannot see the start of the main stadium in Waterford.

Last Thursday, at St Peter Parish Speaks, Prime Minister Mia Mottley promised that 50 bleachers, which could seat 500 to 1000 people, were on the way. We have no idea about the estimated time of delivery.

In the meantime, the Athletics Association of Barbados (AAB) has been forced to stage its weekly programme at two and three venues. Athletes who are multitalented competing in field events and track events cannot now do so owing to the distance between venues.

The AAB has explained that they must now take out liability insurance on these three venues and pay a cost for using each of these venues although they are staging one track meet.

The staging of the finals of track events at BSSAC and NAPSAC remains uncertain. In a recent interview, the contractors working on the Ryan Brathwaite Track said they wanted to deliver the facility on time but their progress was dependent on the weather. Yes, the weather – an element none of us has control over.

In September 2022, Minister of Sports Charles Griffith promised the groundbreaking for the stadium would have been last year. PM Mottley joined the chorus and said that the government would soon break ground for the construction of a new stadium at Waterford, thanks to $40 million in grant funding from the People’s Republic of China. We are three months into 2024 and still, nothing.

While we lag, other Caribbean countries are carrying out major works on their facilities.

In Grenada, the Ministry of Youth & Sports on Tuesday announced: “The resurfacing and marking of the track at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium is 100 per cent complete.” Work on the stands and grounds continue.

In March 2022, Turks and Caicos reopened its National Stadium with a newly renovated track.

Meanwhile, we are still unable to host the annual Carifta Games – the Brainchild of Barbadian Sir Austin Sealy – because we have no stadium.

Our athletes are in limbo. When will work on the stadium finally start? At this stage, is the $40 million still enough or are more funds needed? After work starts, how long will it take to be completed? When will the new facility be ready for use?

We hope Minister Griffith and his team will be able to answer questions like these when they occupy the Well of Parliament during the 2024 Estimates Debate.