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Tough questions, and the truth is that we Belizeans have learned well to look those glistening gift horses very closely in the mouth - because when it comes to public contracts, what you see, and what you should get, are very rarely what you actually get. So today, the design firm which is also the co-contractor called the media in for a two hour long walk through of the largest and most expensive structure in Belize's history. Jules Vasquez tried to figure if it's worth all those millions:.

Jules Vasquez reporting
At 32 million dollars, it's the most expensive public or private structure ever built in Belize. Today the designers and co-contractors - who are the Arguelles brothers from the I.E. design and build firm led the media on a walk through to tell us, first of all, the project is on time and on budget:

Voice of: Daniel Arguelles, ARCHITECT - I.E.
"We have the building set for handing over substantial competitions sometime in late September. We were given 2 years to execute this work from pen to paper to finish turnkey completion by December of this year. We are in this current time ahead of schedule by 3 months. We are currently at and within budget and we project that we will remain within budget up until handing over the total amount of 32 million."

And for 32 million dollars, Belizean get a truly first class, first world type facility, fully air conditioned, and capable of seating - in individual chairs - 4,500 persons with another 500 standing. The eye line with the court is outstanding and the view is unobstructed. The wooden court is FIBA certified and is being installed by the US Company, same for the FIBA grade basketball rim stands.

Daniel Arguelles, ARCHITECT - I.E.
"If somebody walks away from this building and says in there looks like States, we have made it, so to speak, and we are here to show people that in Belize we can do it."

But, we're also in the hurricane belt - and that's why it is multi-purpose:

Daniel Arguelles, ARCHITECT - I.E.
"The building occupies or serves about three purposes; hurricane shelter, multifaceted entertainment facility. It can host concerts, boxing, entertainment type venues, conventions and of course basketball, volleyball sporting venues and that is FIBA standard."

It's sprawling and towering, and it has four locker rooms, multiple concession stands, VIP areas, even a doctor's treatment room - and it's all air conditioned and tiled, every single area. And while it is a public facility, Arguelles says it should be privately managed:

Jules Vasquez
"The building has to be run by a private management firm which is not the sports council or the Ministry of Sports. It has to be run by a firm, a private entity that is running this for profit as a business to maintain the structure."

Daniel Arguelles, ARCHITECT - I.E.
"In my opinion yes. A business owner, manager or a company of some type of pubic private partnership or some equation of that kind of business model is necessary to run this building."

And outside the building, there are also facilities to engage the neighborhood and the wider community:

Daniel Arguelles, ARCHITECT - I.E.
"We didn't want to incorporate fences we needed it to be inviting for the public. We have a built in basketball rims full court and 2 half courts, so that 3:30 when the kids are out on their way home, they could stop in to have a game or two. We also have a 5 on 5 soccer pitch where again, it's available for the public to just interact. We have a green pitch that is just open for general workout activity and exercise activity. For example, we even included a 45 meter dash sprint track, that is coated with 1 inch thick rubberized material. We are going to install a deck facility, a docking facility at the river's edge where it can double as a water taxi micro business opportunity. So what we envisioned is that in the future, people from Ladyville or Belama on game day, instead of taking the bus or being caught up in traffic, somebody can have the opportunity to run water taxi along the Haulover Creek and make a good business opportunity."

Yes, Arguelles did ask to appear off camera. As he noted, the building will be handed over three months early in September.

And one side note, Arguelles says the venue can be used for indoor and outdoor concerts. For the indoor events, the court will have a FIBA approved covering for the court to ensure that it is not damaged.

They estimate that it will consume almost four hundred thousand dollars' worth of electricity annually.

Tomorrow we'll tell you more about the features of the building as a hurricane shelter.