7 News Belize

When Will Marion Jones Be Ready?
posted (September 4, 2013)
Minister of State in the Minsitry of Sports, Herman Longsworth was in Belmopan today as a member of the Public Accounts Committee, and we used the opportunity to ask him about the still unfinished Marion Jones Sporting Complex.

An entire generation of athletes is forced train elsewhere under substandard conditions and prepare themselves for international tournaments while successive Governments have been working on the Marion Jones complex. So, today while the media had an opportunity we asked Longsworth about it, who bristled at the suggestion that the progress to completion has been delayed:

Hon. Herman Longsworth - Minister of State/Sports
"Marion Jones is proceeding as planned, we are working grandstand facilities now, trying to complete them. There is going to be a new presentation, because I have come up with a new master plan for the facility which includes more activities, more disciplines. I want to introduce swimming to the facility, I also want to introduce cricket to the facility so I will sometime over the September celebrations - I will be in more detail unveiling what it is we want to do and we're hoping to find the money. I am going vigorously after finding the money to be able to make this facility into a real national facility."

Reporter
"People believe this is hopelessly behind schedule, you want to add more to it and it hasn't even reached...."

Hon. Herman Longsworth
"Which people are you talking about? Because the people who have the schedule don't feel that way and I have always invited the media to come out here and see what is going on. You don't come but you talk - come to Marion Jones and see what is going, come and see the progress. I've kept inviting you guys and you don't come. Now why I said I want to make it into a real national facility, I mean I want to cover as many disciplines as I possibly can - initially it was only planned for track and field, cycling and football. We have introduced now beach volleyball, racket ball and a whole other things that I want to see go on because we have the space."

Daniel Ortiz
"When can we expect that the Marion Jones sporting complex will be open for business?"

Hon. Herman Longsworth
"I am still hoping, we won't be complete but I am hoping that we can have the facility sufficient complete to open to the public by the end of the year."

And while we had the opportunity we asked Longsworth about the Berger Field, for which plans for upgrade were revealed 9 months ago. Since the unveiling no work has been done, so we asked Longsworth today, about the delay. He explained that plans have changed somewhat:

Hon. Herman Longsworth - Minister of State/Sports
"There's been a change to Berger field, we are in conversation with FIFA and the FFB to have a meeting this coming week to finalize it but I can say in principle that we can put in five-a-side football so there has been a change. It is going to be a really nice facility if we can agree on the responsibilities that we must share, so that is the delay because we were in discussion to do something else other than what was initially planned so we can cover more people and put in place proper programs. The intention really, is to lease the facility to the FFB and have them develop the football structure, a proper football club there. So the FFB, if we agree, will take over the facility and run it on our behalf."

According to Longsworth, all funds allocated for the Berger Field are present and accounted for.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize