NSC counting the cost of damage

The National Sports Council (NSC) is counting the cost of damage sustained by its showpiece venue, the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex, following the passage of Hurricane Tomas last Saturday.{{more}}

The cost, according to Manager of the NSC, Osbourne Browne, could run into several thousand dollars.

Among the areas damaged are the ridging of the Double Decker Stand located at the eastern side of the facility, while the Players Pavilion had two of the canopies at the Viewing Area ripped apart and destroyed.

Additionally, the perimeter fence leading to the venue from the bridge at the eastern end of Arnos Vale Two to the Double Decker Stand also gave way.

Browne, speaking to SEARCHLIGHT on Tuesday, said that the Netball Complex, to the western end of the main facility, “had the most damage to the columns, and lost some of galvanize off the north stand.”

When SEARCHLIGHT visited the site on Tuesday, NSC staffers had already put back some of the galvanized sheeting.

Also sustaining damage was the bar at the southern end of the Netball Complex, which lost its entire roof, and there was displacement of the fences around the courts. The door leading to the complex was also removed from its hinges.

The NSC Manager also disclosed that there was some “rain damage” to the Council’s office equipment at the Administrative Centre.

Browne disclosed that there was damage to other facilities under the command of the NSC, “but they had minor damage”.

He said at that the Dorsetshire Hill Playing Field, for instance, two large trees fell on it.

Browne, though, is thankful that the NSC’s facilities stood up during the fury of the hurricane.

He said that despite the damage at the Arnos Vale Playing, this country will still host the two unofficial test matches later this month, between West Indies A and Pakistan A.

The first match is set for November 18-21, with the second slated for November 24 to 27.

Browne said that since the passage of the hurricane, the West Indies Cricket Board(WICB) has been in contact with them, and the all clear has been given to go ahead with the two matches.

The Arnos Vale Playing Fields, the Stubbs Playing Field and the Sion Hill Playing Field went through extensive re-dos in 2006 in preparation for the hosting of World Cup Warm Up matches in 2007.

The cost of that upgrade was put at EC$54 Million.(RT)