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By Neto Baptiste
Once completed, the national aquatic centre earmarked for Tomlinsons, will remain under government’s control despite proposals or suggestions by the Antigua and Barbuda Swimming Federation (ABSF) that they be given full management of the facility.
This is according to Minister of Sports, Daryll Matthew, who said the centre must live up to its name as a national facility and that it’s usage will not be dictated by a sole entity.
“The preference for the swimming association would be for us to turn over the facility to them but we have had very bad experiences with turning over facilities to national associations and when the facility require repair, the government gets beaten with many stripes. There must be some sort of collaborative effort between us and the association because it is not a facility we are building for the association, it is a facility that we are building for Antiguans and Barbudans. Schools, for example, should have access to the facility if the school wants to have a swimming programme and we don’t want to put that solely in the hands of a national association where they can now dictate who uses the pool and when,” he said.
Speaking on the Good Morning Jojo sports show, Matthew hinted that the project could get off the ground in short order as they are set to meet with the president of the swimming federation, Edith Clashing, in the coming days.
“I got a correspondence from her a few days ago and, in fact, we have been exchanging correspondences and the last thing I got from her was a formal quote for the pool. The back and forth has been whether or not we should get an international quote to build out a facility or if the government could build the facility but the pool itself, the swimming area could be internationally certified. We’ve come to a position now where she has sent me quotes from an international company to do the pool itself or the swimming area and the government will work on the surrounding facilities,” the minister said.
In 2024, Clashing said the body is hoping the company chosen to conduct a feasibility study at the site could also be contracted to construct the facility, as arrangements are that the US $16,000 would then be reinvested into the facility as part of the overall cost. Government rejected the proposal due to what Matthew had said was high cost while adding that National Housing is fully equipped and capable of completing certain aspects of the project.
Matthew said he too is under pressure to deliver the project first announced in 2022.
“The public may not be aware but I am also under a lot of pressure from the Cabinet as well to make this happen, and so it is a regular topic that comes up in the Cabinet discussions as to when is the facility starting. We promised this two years ago and one of the things we do not want is for it to appear as if it is an election gimmick but just like I continue to update you [Observer media] and the public of Antigua and Barbuda, I update the Cabinet that the preference is to work along with the national association so that we cannot be accused of being high-handed and not consulting and then end of with a facility that they may not feel is suitable to the needs of the swimming fraternity,” he said.
In December of 2022, government broke ground at the site for the proposed aquatic centre that would have housed a 25-meter pool, dressing rooms, stands and other amenities. The federation, under the leadership of Clashing, who was elected in March of 2023, renegotiated for a 50-meter pool and a 25-meter warm-up pool.
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