-new filter to be installed
By Tamica Garnett
The Colgrain Swimming Pool will remain closed until around October to facilitate the installation of a new filter system, among other works.
This was confirmed yesterday by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Alfred King. The pool has been closed since June month-end following damage to the pool’s filter system, and an “Out of Order” sign currently graces the entrance gate to the pool, informing patrons of its closure.
Speaking with King via telephone Stabroek Sport was notified that a three-month contract had been awarded late last month to Fife Construction Company to undertake repairs at the pool.
In addition to the installation of a brand new filter, the works will also include the repair and upgrading of the deck and driveway areas.
Fife is also the construction company that was engaged by the ministry to undertake the construction of the 50m Olympic-size swimming pool now under construction at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
King stated that while the maximum period was three months, the possibility existed that the works may be completed before then. However he affirmed that usage of the pool would not resume until it is fully refurbished and operational.
The filter tank is scheduled to arrive in another two weeks, and in the meantime the old filter system is to be dismantled.
King said that he could not at present comment on what stage of construction the company is at currently, nor is he at liberty to discuss the cost that will be incurred to undertake the project.
Administrator of Colgrain, Stephanie Fraser yesterday disclosed that on June 24 it was discovered that another hole had developed in the filter tank.
Fraser explained that due to the metallic nature of the filter tank, the chemicals used in the pool for sanitation purposes had a tendency to erode it and over the years holes have continuously been developing in the tank.
Normally the holes would be patched and use of the pool would resume but this time around after several attempts to rectify the situation, it was deemed beyond the scope of repairs, and a new filter would have to be installed.
“It was June 24 that we saw that a huge hole developed at the base of the tank and that could not take patching up. We weren’t able to sort it out – several attempts were made, we tried different techniques to see if we can patch it up but to no avail,” Fraser said.
Fraser also noted that since then the pool has been in use by many organizations and groups, including several homes for disabled and orphaned children. Fraser disclosed that overall the pool is used by over 20 different groups.
She stated that over the years the ministry has expended millions of dollars in its upkeep.
“Last year we had a problem with the underground pipe, and we had to patch two holes in the tank. Because it is a cast iron filter tank the chemicals would erode the tank, but the new tank is expected to be fibre glass which isn’t as susceptible to erosion from the chemicals,” Fraser explained.
Meanwhile, Fraser indicated that the heaviest burden of the closure of the pool will be felt when school reopens in September, as many schools use the pool for the training of their swimmers as well as for hosting the swimming segment of Inter-House Athletics Championships.
Schools, Fraser added, have already begun sending in their letters to request the use of the pool and some had even sent in their requests months in advance.
Moreover, the closure of the pool has impacted on the activities of many of Guyana’s top swimming clubs.
And while there is also the 25m Castellani Swimming Pool on Homestretch Avenue, which is under the control of the Office of the President, the use of that pool is only extended to national swimmers, recognized by the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association, during restricted hours.
The Colgrain pool facilitates training activities of four competitive swimming clubs – Dolphins, Silver Sharks, Orca and Dorado, home of national swimmers Britany van Lange and Noelle Smith.
Also a swimming coach, Fraser said that the swimmers are greatly disenfranchised at the moment with no other option available for them, particularly since it is during the summer vacation that youngsters are most available to use the pool.
“Every day I get calls from the varying groups, varying kids call me to ask about when the pool will be back in service. We’ve already begun receiving letters from the different schools requesting the use of the pool for their school training and competitions,” Fraser said.
And beyond the swimming fraternity, the pool is also utilized by other sports bodies, including national teams in cricket, rugby and football for cross training. In addition, it is there that athletes in need of physiotherapy are sent for the aqua-therapy aspect of their recovery programme.
