THE Ministry of Youth Development and Sports is renovating and improving sporting facilities across the island, as well as building a National Youth and Entertainment Centre, to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to creating an empowering environment for Saint Lucian athletes and artisans.
Youth Development and Sports Minister Kenson Casimir said that, weather allowing, construction of the National Aquatic Centre in Beausejour should begin this week. The project is intended to be finished within an ambitious 18-month time frame.
This program, which was first conceptualised a decade ago, is now being reinvigorated under Minister Casimir’s guidance, with a renewed commitment to seeing it through.
In 2015, Dr. Kenny Anthony’s Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) administration pledged an additional $12 million to Beausejour’s transformation into a National Sports Centre with cricket grounds, an indoor sports facility, and a six-court tennis centre.
Furthermore, the Republic of China (Taiwan) provided approximately EC$1 million in grant monies to help launch the project. Dr. Anthony stressed that investment in the National Aquatic Centre goes beyond simply promoting a sport; it is critical for residents to learn important life skills. “Being able to swim is a matter of life or death,” he said.
Recognising the fatal drowning incidences that affect countless lives in Saint Lucia and the wider region, Dr. Anthony stated, “It is a shameful reality that, despite being surrounded by the Caribbean and Atlantic waters, the overwhelming majority of our population cannot swim or stay afloat.” We must fix this. While infrastructure alone will not solve the problem, it is a necessary step forward.”
The National Aquatic Centre will be strategically positioned on roughly 2.5 acres of land east of the Beausejour Cricket Grounds, near the intersection of Beausejour and Comerette roads. The National Lotteries Authority [NLA] owns the land, so no acquisition was required.
In July 2015, the government confidently staged a sod-turning ceremony to mark the beginning of building the island’s first public aquatics centre.
The National Aquatic Centre will include a 50-meter pool built to international standards, capable of hosting regional and international events, as well as a 500-seat pavilion.
Although the project was halted previous to and following the COVID-19 outbreak, officials are now focussing on completing it.
Plans for a National Youth and Entertainment Centre are also well advanced, with the goal of promoting and developing youthful talent.
“We received the architectural drawings and are actively assessing costs. Decisions regarding the timelines for establishing the Youth and Entertainment sector in Saint Lucia will be made promptly,” Casimir stated at a recent media briefing.