The Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground, which has been at the centre of controversy, is being upgraded to the tune of $201.8 million, according to records from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.
This publication also found that the Trinidad-based company Superior Group Inc was the lone bidder for the project in September 2022. Superior Group had tendered a bid to design, build and prepare the Mackenzie ground at the cost of $201,894,000 and was awarded the project on September 15.
However, the project details remain a mystery to residents. Regional Chairman Derron Adams informed this newspaper that requests for information from his office and the council through Regional Executive Officer Dwight John are yet to be answered.
Last week, Linden football enthusiasts strongly objected to the government’s plan to upgrade the famed ground to meet the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) standard. Additionally, they argued that despite the ground falling under the purview of a management committee, that committee was clueless about the type of work that will be carried out.
They have claimed that the procurement process was secretive but the company’s Chief Executive Officer Rezan Ogeer dismissed those claims. He told the Sunday Stabroek that his company tendered a bid based on a public invitation published in a Sunday newspaper. He also stated that he was among several other company heads who participated in a site visit in the lead-up to tendering.
Ogeer said that his company being awarded the project had nothing to do with political ties, as was being rumoured by community activists. He emphasised that the company was apolitical and like other companies conducting business, responded to an invitation to bid in its area of expertise.
Ogeer said his company has over 20 years of experience in the field and had retrofitted a number grounds in Trinidad and Tobago to both FIFA and ICC standards. Speaking briefly on the work being carried out, he explained that at the MSC a multi-purpose facility was being constructed to accommodate both football and cricket.
He said that drainage was one of the main issues that had to be addressed and the company had done so by designing an underground drainage system.The raised ground will be equipped with underground drainage systems with electronic sprinklers to keep the grass moist. To date, the company has installed the sprinklers and planted the grass to cover the circumference of the ground.
He stated that the company decided to go against sharing the design of the ground which it had conceptualised, as furnishing it to everyone who requested it could have turned out unfavourable.
The Mackenzie facility when completed will be to the standard of the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara.
In a previous report, Adams had said, “Our contention is this is a ground that sees more football matches than cricket. In Linden, 90 percent of the people play football not cricket and it is with this we are questioning why the government is upgrading this ground to ICC standards instead of FIFA.”
The chairman explained that the government was told of a second ground at Retrieve, Linden, that also needed upgrading. He opined that if the government wanted to create a facility to host international-level cricket games that ground could have been utilised. He argued that Retrieve hosting cricket would have eliminated any double-booking for future games of cricket and football. He also stated that if the ground was being upgraded to FIFA standards, athletes would still be able to train but now that does not seem possible.
“We are in support of all disciplines of sport having a place in our community,” he said, before adding that the region was in no way opposed to cricket being played there as some residents are huge cricket fans.
“Don’t get me wrong we the people of Linden welcome the upgrades of any facility but the manner in which this is being done, without any respect for the local authority or the people is not fair and that is what we have an issue with,” Adams added.
At a press conference two Thursdays ago, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo in response to those claims, said, “The fact is that Linden will have both a FIFA-standard ground and an ICC-standard ground, so that they can play both cricket and football.”
He clarified that the Bayroc Ground where a multi-million dollar synthetic field is being developed will house an FIFA-standard ground with lighting for football.
“For the first time, we are developing three grounds in the town of Linden that will allow us to play international cricket and football,” Jagdeo said prior to mentioning that the government will also upgrade the Retrieve ground to benefit three schools.
