Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 02, 2013 Sports
Athletics track being raised to combat this says Damian Fernandes
By Sean Devers
Damian Fernandes, Commissioner of the Protected Areas Commission, yesterday told Kaieteur Sport that work on resurfacing the athletics track at the National Park, an activity under the Three Parks Initiative commenced with phase one of the project last September.
Contractor Prakesh of A&S Construction said he was confident despite the rains, phase 1 of the project, which consists of the stockpiling of sand for the foundation of the 400-meter track, should be completed by the end of this month.
“The recent heavy rain and soggy ground prevented our trucks from driving across the field to deposit material for our work but we are back on track now and I am confident that the work will be completed on schedule,” Prakesh informed.
“Regular flooding is a challenge for most areas in the National Park, as the Park is on average lower than much of Georgetown. The Park can only be effectively drained after much of Georgetown drains. Addressing this problem will involve more than simply improving drainage at the Park, but will also require the raising of sections of the Park,” Fernandes explained.
The 33-year-old Fernandes was previously based at the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment which was established to have responsibilities for forestry, mining, environmental management, wildlife, protected areas, land use planning and coordination, and climate change.
He has been at the National Park for just under a year now and said that without the assistance the Ministry the refurbishing of the track at the Park would not have been possible.
Fernandes informed that land at the Botanical Gardens and the Zoological Park will have to be lifted also and will require large amounts of earth and sand.
“The Track has long been one of the lowest spots in the National Park, with much of the area being underwater during the rainy season and therefore inaccessible to both athletes and our maintenance machines. The rehabilitation aims to reduce flooding and allow the track to be in use for longer periods during the year,” Fernandes added.
According to Fernandes, the project will be implemented in three phases (Stockpiling of sand and earth), (Excavation of the top layer of earth and backfilling with the sand and other stockpiled material) and (Spreading the top layer of earth, levelling, shaping and compacting) and explained that because the first phase has not yet been completed he could not provide a figure for the entire project.
“We are hoping to get support in terms of the use of the big equipment like excavators from the Ministry of Public Works. If this happens then we would be able to provide that same high quality work for a much lower cost. By the commencement of phase two I will have a better idea of what cost we are looking at the time frame for completion,” Fernandes said.
Fernandes disclosed that the entire process will therefore take some time, and may be further affected by the weather and machine performance. He said that each phase will present workers with it’ sown specific challenges, but assured that working to address those challenges as much as possible beforehand will go a long in minimizing delays.
“We are excavating and reusing the current top layer of earth to finish the ground, as we have so far been unable to source clean earth with minimal debris. Reusing the existing earth will minimize the potential for the introduction of obstacles, which could pose a danger to the athletes. We are presently working to stockpile over 7,000 cubic meters of sand,” Fernandes noted.
“I would also like to invite interested businesses, individuals and other groups to join with us as we seek additional donations of sand and clean earth. The donation of materials will allow us to slowly raise these parks, and transform them into all-weather green spaces for the use and benefit of current and future generations of Guyanese,” Fernandes concluded.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
Apr 23, 2024
Kaieteur Sports – Over the weekend, the prestigious Lusignan Golf Club played host to the highly anticipated AMCHAM Golf Tournament, drawing golf enthusiasts and professionals alike from across...Kaieteur News – Just recently, the PPC determined that it does not have the authority to vitiate a contract which was... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]