Caption: Chaguanas West MP Dr Neil Gosine listens to Minister of Sport Phillip Watts

Summary

• Joint Assessment Tour: MP Neil Gosine and Sports Minister Phillip Watts toured five recreational cricket grounds in Chaguanas West to evaluate deteriorating infrastructure.
• Key Upgrades Identified: Proposed works across the facilities include pavilion refurbishments, lighting installations, plumbing repairs, and upgrades to practice nets and jogging tracks.
• Focus on Youth Development: The initiative aims to provide safe, high-quality spaces to foster discipline, create opportunities, and build community pride among local youth and athletes.

 

By Prior Beharry

IN a push to revitalise local sports infrastructure, Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West, Neil Gosine, and Minister of Sport and Community Development, Phillip Watts, conducted a tour of several recreational cricket grounds across the constituency on Sunday.

The site visits were organised to assess the deteriorating conditions of community sporting facilities and to map out necessary repairs, structural upgrades, and refurbishments, a release stated.

Gosine, who also serves as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism, stressed the importance of providing high-quality spaces for local athletes.

“I believe strongly that our young people and sporting communities deserve safe, well-maintained facilities where they can train, compete, and represent their communities with pride,” Gosine said.

The delegation, which included a technical team from the Ministry of Sport, inspected five major community grounds. The assessments identified a wide range of needed improvements, from basic plumbing fixes to major structural overhauls.

At the Munroe Road Recreation Grounds, extensive works have been proposed, including structural, plumbing, and electrical upgrades, alongside a pavilion refurbishment and improvements to the jogging track and lighting.

The Marchin Recreation Ground is also slated for lighting upgrades, the refurbishment of its pavilion’s ground-floor toilets, and repairs to its outdoor practice nets. The St Charles Recreation Ground in Savannah Heights will also benefit from pavilion refurbishments and the installation of new lighting.

Meanwhile, officials conducted infrastructure condition reviews at both the Pierre Road and Felicity Youngsters Recreation Grounds to pinpoint priority upgrade works for future development.

Gosine thanked Watts and his technical staff for taking the time to evaluate the spaces, noting that the collaboration between ministries is crucial for getting the projects off the ground.

“Together we will work to ensure that the necessary repairs and upgrades are carried out so that these grounds can better serve the residents, youth, and sporting groups of Chaguanas West,” Gosine added.