State admits slow going

 By JACK AMI

SPORTS and Tourism Minister Justin Tkatchenko confirmed yesterday that K20 million was secured from the 2015 Pacific Games savings to build two new stadiums at the Sir John Guise Stadium and Murray Barracks for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in November.

The minister has, however, not ruled out Sir Hubert Murray Stadium as a venue for the FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup.

“If worse comes to worst, we should not panic as plan B is in place to accommodate that (if SHMS is not completed on time to FIFA standard),” Tkatchenko said.

The Sports and Tourism Minister made it clear that the K20 million was not re-diverted from other areas in the national budget but from savings from the 2015 Pacific Games. 

The money we will be used for the two new stadiums.

He said designs and procurement were done six months ago to ensure that work commenced on the mini stadiums well before time.

 “These two mini stadiums will be FIFA-compliant, of world class standard and have 5000 seats at Murray Barracks and SJGS.”

He was confident that “things would work out according to plan”. 

Tkatchenko said the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium was an ongoing project which the Government was working closely with the contractors (Curtain Brothers) to get done.

“It’s been a slow start and I’m working with the contractors to fast track it and possibly complete it before the World Cup.”

The National reported last week that not only was work at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium stalled but there was also no work done on the 17 training venues at the selected educational institutions in the city.  

He admitted work was progressing slowly on the Sir John Guise Stadium and selected schools fields as training venues for the teams.

FIFA has already expressed concerned of the slow progress of the venues for the world event.