International consultant satisfied with progress of athletic track

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has been working closely with contractors to ensure optimum value for its investments. This working commitment by the Ministry and contractors was furthered when Heribert Hammes, of Hammes Consultancy Engineering made his second visit to Guyana to check on the progress and quality of work being done on the asphalt base for the synthetic track and field at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

He was hired by REGUPOL to supervise and support the design for the asphalt base for the installation of the synthetic track.

Hammes told the media he was pleased with the progress made thus far, since his first visit, and will continue to give support towards the successful completion of project.

“If the foundation is not properly done then the surface will not be able to support the synthetic track…because of the rainy season there was some delay in preparing the surface however, the work is progressing smoothly,” Hammes explained.

REGUPOL, an internationally known manufacturer of synthetic track and fields, was awarded the contract for the supply and installation of the synthetic track in Region Three. In addition, REGUPOL will supply and install 400 M of aluminium rail according to IAAF standards, the supply of 1 discus/hammer ring, 5 take off boards with trays for long/triple jump, 2 shot put rings with stops, 2 pole vault boxes with covers, 1 steeple chase hurdle with ground sockets and, provide surveying and line markings to meet IAAF specifications and standards.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Alfred King said that the construction of the synthetic track and field facility is being done in phases at various lots to ensure the successful completion of the project within the given time frame time. “The Ministry has already contracted the services of a few contracting companies to get the track up and ready….the first lot of the project which was awarded to Courtney Benn is about 99 percent complete,” he said.

In order to guarantee a quality surface, he said several requirements have to be met. “The foundation for the track itself which is the most critical component has to be given keen and careful attention at every phase of its construction…starting from excavation to the laying of the various layers of subsoil and material to ensure no moving once the track is laid,” the Permanent Secretary explained.

In addition, he said that overall design and supervision of construction of facility from start to finish was awarded to Design and Construction Services Limited (DCSL) whose Senior Project Manager of DCSL, Patrick Pitt said that the project is being executed effectively and to best of their ability.

The synthetic track and field facility sits on 30 acres of land and is one of many sporting facilities being constructed by the People’s Progressive Party Civic Administration to re-ignite and re-new sport and athletics in Guyana. (GINA)