‘Take responsibility’

 By KYMLIE KARANI

PEOPLE must start taking responsibility to ensure work starts on 2015 Pacific Games facilities, Minister for Sports and 2015 Pacific Games, Justin Tkatchenko says.

In the wake of the groundbreaking ceremony for the Games village at the University of Papua New Guinea, Tkatchenko said greater emphasis had been put on the urgent need of getting work going.

He said in a press conference last week people must start taking responsibility and get their act together to start the groundwork for other sporting venues as soon as possible.

“It is a lot of hard work within a short period of time but if we all put our heads together, work should be done before the Games begin,” he said.

So far the only sporting venues that are undergoing construction are the Taurama Leisure Centre (Taurama Aquatic Centre and Indoor Sporting Complex) and the games village (University of Papua New Guinea).

“Progress is good. Curtain Brothers have picked up work with piling at the Games Village construction site within the last couple of weeks,” Tkatchenko said.

The Sir John Guise Stadium, which is the main venue for the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, is expected to undergo refurbishment and construction and will be shut by July 1, while work at the Rita Flynn Netball Courts start in October.

“We’ve got a long road ahead before we deliver the Games and we can only be certain and confident if we cooperate and work together. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his government are behind the 2015 Pacific Games,” Tkatchenko said.