Director of Sport Neil Kumar stated yesterday that the project for the re-surfacing of the National Park circuit and the E.R. Burrowes School of Arts car park, which is used by visitors to the park, will also see the resurfacing of the lawn tennis courts in the National Park.
Kumar made the disclosure while speaking to Stabroek Sport yesterday in relation to works on various facilities that the Sports Ministry is embarking on.
“We met with the contractors and asked them to assist with the tennis courts,” said Kumar.
He said that he has had discussions with the contractors undertaking the National Park project, DIPCON Engineering, and an agreement has been made with the contractor for them to resurface the tennis courts as well.
One part of the $29 million project, the resurfacing of the National Park
circuit was completed on January 28 under the supervision of engineer Walter Willis of the Public Works Ministry which is overseeing the project.
Kumar was unable to give an exact date when this other phase of resurfacing work will begin, but he stated that “anytime now” the contractors will be commencing work on the tennis court.In the meantime, International Tennis Federation (ITF) Development Officer for the English-speaking Caribbean, Anthony Jeremiah, has lamented the state of Guyana’s lawn tennis facilities.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport on Sunday at the National Gymnasium where the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) was hosting an under-10 programme, Jeremiah said that the court in the National Park requires a facelift, is not “playable” and not “conducive for young players to enhance” their game.
Jeremiah also advocated the construction of new courts in different regions of the country.
Kumar said yesterday that the Sports Ministry was already planning on re-surfacing the courts in the National Park prior to Jeremiah’s statements and he is “very upset” that Jeremiah did not meet with the Sports Ministry first to relate his concerns about the condition of the courts.
Jeremiah is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport and the Guyana Olympic Association today to discuss developmental issues such as it relates to tennis administration, the development of coaches and facilities.
The Director of Sport also highlighted plans to construct 10 multi-purpose courts in five administrative regions.
This project, Kumar had said last year, will be done by the Sports Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and it is scheduled to commence this year.
According to Kumar they have “started giving out contracts” for that project.
