And while we had Aragon we asked him about the Marion Jones sporting complex – which is one of those facilities managed by the Sports Council. Before
the break we called it the mother of all white elephants – not so much because so much money has been wasted on it – fat is, no one knows for sure how
many millions have been spent…but it's the mother of all because it was first launched in 2005 with 5 million US dollars from the Taiwanese, and 11
years, and many PUDP millions later, Marion Jones is still not usable! It is a public monument to incompetence, and who knows what else. But new
minister Elodio Aragon says he can fix it – he just needs 5 million US more:…
Hon. Elodio Aragon - Minister of State, Youth and Sports
"And I will tell you Marion Jones stadium needs to be finished and we are working on that to get it finished. I am hoping as soon as possible we will
get that going. Now in terms of Marion Jones, one of the things I had a meeting with the supervising element of the Marion Jones Stadium and I'll tell
you that I've learned a lot in terms of how Marion Jones Stadium came about, what was the plan and how monies were being allocated to it. Understanding
that and where we are in terms of the work has given me a great insight in knowing how we will now move forward in terms of getting it done. The
priority for me is getting Marion Jones Stadium up and finished."
Jules Vasquez
"Are you all prepared to come to terms with the fact that the Marion Jones was not ever built or ever designed or thought of the end users, it's always
been for who could get this contract. I regret to say this and it's not your fault but it's always been seen as an industry on to itself. Are you all
picturing now the end user who can say, well we can get kids using this and develop a track and field programme based on X,Y and Z?"
Hon. Elodio Aragon - Minister of State, Youth and Sports
"Well Jules if you look at the investment that has been done on Marion Jones, a lot of it is for our national sports, to host national sporting events.
We have rubberized track and field that is there. We have the run around for the cyclist as well that needs to be done and there is still work that
needs to be done at Marion Jones and we won't run away from that. A rough estimate would put it at around 2.5 Million US dollars that needs to be spent
and invested there to get the Marion Jones finished intact and the keys are handed over. Now to get to that, that is where the problem lies. "
And while Aragon says he has spoken with the Prime Minister and is seeking external funding for that 5 million Belize dollars more, he stressed that
the 5 million US which the Mexicans put into a project management group called UNOPS will be untouched because that is for another facility outside
Marion Jones, but on the same compound:..
Hon. Elodio Aragon - Minister of State, Youth and Sports
"UNUPS is an organisation that will oversee the investment of the 5 million US dollars for the indoor facilities that is being built by the Mexicans.
In no way will that money will be used on the Marion Jones Stadium itself; building that is there right now, that money has been slated for the indoor
facilities that will be built right beside the Marion Jones within the same complex."
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