NSI to construct new multi-purpose Court at Raoul Illidge Sports Complex

CAY HILL--The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Melissa Gumbs, has announced that the National Sports Institute (NSI) is moving ahead with the construction of a new multi purpose court in the area at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex.

The project is the practical outcome of a previously inactive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the former administration between SZV, SMMC and government. That MOU involved a land swap at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex, where a portion of land was transferred to SZV for the construction of a new building. In return, the agreement envisioned the development of a master plan for the complex and the construction of two tennis courts and another multi purpose court in a different area.

Despite that intent, the Minister explained that the MOU was never effectively implemented. No concrete steps were taken by government or the partner entities to move the master plan and sports facilities forward, and the MOU lapsed shortly before Minister Gumbs took office. This left the Ministry and NSI in a difficult position, with land already allocated, expectations created, but no executed plan for the promised facilities.

Through renewed negotiations with SMMC and SZV, the Ministry and NSI have now secured funding from these entities for the development and construction of a single multi purpose court at the complex. The new court is being designed to accommodate several disciplines, including basketball, tennis and netball, and will add much needed capacity to the existing inventory of public sports facilities.

The Minister noted that, under the original MOU, the full cost of the sports infrastructure was supposed to be covered by SMMC and SZV. In practice, additional financial input from NSI has become necessary, which is a departure from the original understanding and a disappointing element from a policy and governance perspective. She underlined that this situation illustrates how arrangements that look attractive on paper can create challenges later if the details are not carefully worked out and enforced.

At the same time, Minister Gumbs expressed satisfaction that, despite the lapse of the original MOU and the lack of implementation over several years, the Ministry, NSI and their partners have been able to reach an agreement that delivers at least one solid, multi purpose court for the community. NSI will be responsible for managing and maintaining the new court, in line with the standard that has been applied to all NSI operated sports facilities to date.

Groundwork for the court began this week. Visible construction activity is expected to increase in January, when the public will start to see more movement on the site as the project advances.

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