Dominica will soon have its own public gym.
Prime Minister Skerrit made that announcement while addressing a contract signing ceremony last week, for roof repair works on the Windsor Park Sports Stadium.
He said the funds for the facility were made available by the government of the People’s Republic of China.
“There is a request before me for an amount of funds to retrofit the space to set up the gym,” he noted. “So very soon we will have a public gym.”
The Prime Minister is counting on an alliance of associations to take responsibility for managing the gym and not the government of Dominica.
“That is where one of the associations should step in and partner with the government. We are providing the space, you do not have to pay the rent, but it is a gym for the public.”
He admonished sports associations not to rely only on the government to do everything where sports is concerned, “we have to play our part and I am putting it out there…”
Skerrit made it clear that his government has not scrapped an indoor facility for which US$5 Million has been secured from the government of Mexico.
He said the project has been delayed due to the passage of Tropical Storm Erika.
“Once we can see our way with respect to the resettlement of the communities with regards to the infrastructure, then I believe that we will be in a position for the recommencement of the facility,” he explained.
If all works according to plan, he said, construction of the indoor facility will commence in 2017.
Another area which he said is receiving attention by his government, is the the maintenance of playing fields.
“Some weeks ago we signed a contract for the lighting of five playing fields. The intention was to have done twenty-four playing fields and we were about to sign the contract for the 24, but Tropical Storm Erika visited us,” he indicated. “What we have done is to say we cannot do all at one time as originally envisaged, let us do it in a phase basis.”
He said five fields had already been lit, and another five will be done after the new budget is passed. “So we will be able to do the entire 24 in a two year cycle rather than a one year as we had originally envisaged,” he explained
He mentioned the construction of a new playing field in Grand Fond and work on the Soufriere playing field to the tune of approximately $1 million and identified, as a major priority for Dominica in the financial year 2016/2017, improvement works on the Geneva playing field and Massacre playing field and hard court.
Skerrit argued that despite the need for facilities, it is incumbent on sportsmen and sportswomen, through dedication and commitment, to make the best of the circumstances and the opportunities which are available to them.
Meanwhile he cautioned sportsmen and sportswomen to stay clear of the use of drugs in sports, pointing out “There is no place in sports for drugs……We have to engage ourselves in physical activity.”
He urged sportsmen and women to commit themselves to practice and preparation.
“One cannot be international athletes, if we do not commit ourselves to this,” The Prime Minister stressed.
Sounds like a good idea. However why one public gym? How will individuals access the gym, and why not small public gyms in each village?
lol
Wonders NEVER cease to amaze me! Allu have allu priority all screwed up in this country.A public gym? What for? When I was growing up we ran and played and went to river to fetch water. THAT was our gym and we stayed fit. Now, that Skerrit man thinks that Dominica is America and is slowly introducing commess.
It is 2016 and Dominica has a chicken coop calling airport. Why can’t the focus be on building a better airport or whatever that eyesore is called? Gym, what gym? Chuppessssssssss
another pie in the sky
MAMA!!!!
That’s a good move, but sorry to say your bad out weighs your good by far. So while I applaud you for that, I remind you that “Panama Papers” are out and we’ll spare nothing in taking you down.
Public GYM is this development will this create employment
For our people or will this be a hotel palace for Vagrants
Cool, but since is public it will most likely be crawling with “kawat” is that Dominica have nowadays
that is what bad governance does to it citizens….it depletes their morals and standards
You can have all the gyms you want but untill we change our lifestyles nothing is going to change . We are becoming too obese and eating too much processed and fast foods. Perhaps we can make better and more athletic facilities around the country . That gym should be a private undertaking .
Too much processed and fast foods? The only franchise that survive in Dominica is KFC, it had one it Portsmouth it failed miserably, we also had a number of different franchises that closed down over the years. My point is it’s probably the stew chicken, dasheen and fig all you eating that making all you fat.
Oh really!! I thought that was where the INDOOR sporting facility was suppose to go for basketball and the likes. What happened to that plan?
I guess its cheaper to put a public Chines gym there, since there is no money to build the indoor indoor facility.
Just put something to distract the people.
DNO that’s the best pic of a gym allu can get on the internet A ghost gym that man
lol………..true that treadmill look like a conveyor belt in them factory
But why Skerritt putting all his energy in things that dont matter? Skerritt is the type of fella dat will give you Sugar when you need Rice.
Agree.
Dominicans, lest you all forget. Wasn’t it Skerritt who claimed that the Goodwill Improvement/Sports Committee did not have permission from Planning Division and after excuses, stalled the project to improve the playing field, i.e., to fence up the area and to erect , round the field, facilities to jog and exercise? The Committee itself wrote up and submitted its project, and solicited funds from the Australian and New Zealand Gov’t.
Up to now, the project, to enhance the playing Field, so that the people of Goodwill area could engage in sports training, improve their health, cannot begin. Thanks to Skerritt’s intervention. the project has been stalled.
We all know the people especially of Roseau Central, North, South made effective use of the Windsor Park to practice cricket, football, Basketball, Netball, athletics. That too dead for years and the youths have been deprived.
Contradictions. Lindo Park sports project stalled by whom? Now gym?…
Skerrit can’t complete any project that he has started, so why should this one be any different? I can’t name one project that’s been completed recently. This is another white elephant by this man and his cronies.
This is the Chinese’ island. They will come work out too.
At what time are we going to be positive about the development of the country? sad!
Good question Mia. You should ask the Prime Minister that. When are we going to get jobs, especially for our young people? WHERE ARE THE JOBS P.M.????? Be postive P.M. and create real jobs, not nep jobs.
The gym should be placed where it’s needed most, like right next to KFC!
What is a public gym. Why not give the money to
a small business man to open a gym, so he could
create jobs for the unemployed.
The previous press release stated that annual maintenance costs for the stadium will fall between 7% and 10% of its total cost. Given that the construction cost of stadium was EC$60,000,000, this amounts to over 4 million dollars to 9 million dollars annually!
Regardless of the benefits of a Public Gym, can we really afford this colossal cost for the upkeep of the Stadium?
Oh wow! A public gym! Maybe we should have a grand groundbreaking ceremony with entertainment by Triple Kay and Swinging Stars!
And then we should never complete it or just keep changing the date of completion as we usually do.
Please fix those roads first. PM I like you but take care of the most important things first. Gym will come after. Dominican can go outside and take walks for now. You’re been breaking more grounds than con Edison in NY. Also no forgetting all those sewo. Take care of our lovely DA.
How many permanent jobs will this new “free” gym create?
Zero.
Lang Mama doh have a degree in English but I can at least smell bad English grammar and phrasing.
“One cannot be international athletes, if we do not commit ourselves to this,” DNO did the English major really say that?. One cannot be international athletes???? Mozart. How one turns into plural athletes and then it turn into ,we and ourselves. No sah Lennox Linton need to run an English course for these so called,English majors.
With Lang Mama English I would say ” one cannot become an international athlete without hard work and commitment. Simple and correct. Less is more. Minimalism is great particularly if you tend to lie alot.
Well, what do you expect from a man who claimed he majored and graduated with a degree in English. Nevertheless, one of his supporters made the claim that the degree Skerrit obtained is a PhD in psychology!
That means means Skerrit is the only student in the history of the world who attended University, majored in English; however on graduating he was awarded a degree in psychology!
May I remind you that the University Skerrit told Dominicans he graduated from; when we research the truth, we found out that in the history of the university, there has never been any student named Roosevelt M. Skerrit graduating from that university.
Now maybe we made a mistake, perhaps when we should have researched a one Mr. Mountain Chicken Carpaud (Crapo) Mentality Sly Eye Indian doctor of nothing Roosevelt Skerrit, then we may have found him.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahah. Lie, lie, lie!
Everything is coming soon except industrialized jobs!
Why should government use taxpayers money to provide a free Gym for people to workout!
Everything insignificant Skerrit rubs in the face of his supports, there is no place on this planet where government provides free facilities for physical development. Dominica is on of the few places on the planet where there are no traffic lights installed.
These are not the days when police stands in the middle of the street and direct traffic, where are the street traffic lights, where is our International Airport, ware are our industrial manufacturing companies?
I suppose music, rum, and dance: now promised physical exercise takes precedence over the more significant issues such as the creation of jobs, and employment.
I think that money could be used to do something better. They’re just gonna create a spot for the homeless to hangout. Just my 2 cents.
More like a gimmick than a gym. We have a similar playground for kids opposite the deep water port but I never see children playing there. Have you? All cosmetics and no substance. Where are the jobs?
The location of that playground is just absurd right on a highway… only a crazy person would send or bring their children to play on that playground where vehicles are flying miles per hour on that highway
this is an amazing idea. Dominicans don\’t seem the value the importance of keeping healthy. Even if its public it also doesn\’t mean that it should be free. There should be a fee even if its $35 a month to have full access to the gym. GREAT IDEA. HEALTHIER WE ARE THE LESS WE WILL NEED TO SPEND ON MEDICAL BILLS
garcon almost 20 years the grand fond playing under construction……every village council inauguration council getting over $200,000 for this playing field and u still mentioning construction of new playing field?……gimme a break…..
Garcon, unfortunately for the good people of Grand Fond, that project might take another 20 years, before it’s done.
Yes big thumbs up to we the people of Dominica our profits from playing lotto is being used to light these playing fields. Give each other “high fives”. Bravo people of Dominica
Skerro the more they hate, back bite and criticize while they sit down drinking rum… the more you know you doing the right things … keep it moving forward.
That is a really really great idea. These things should be installed in every town near most public beaches or rivers. Except in Grand bay!
Except Grand Bay? What this the reason? You should explain.
Although it is much needed, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OFF! in 2016!!!! Thats like saying Dominica gets its first public restrooms. The ministry of health , sports and education have FAILED in terms or sports and physical fitness over the years. YOU HAVE FAILED THE YOUTH AND HEALTH CONSCIOUS, SPORTS MINDED PEOPLE. Yet you want us to go and compete in national regional and international games.
I fail to see the reasoning behind your disapproval. Don’t you think having a public gym where athletes and citizens alike can train and be healthy a good idea? why is there negativity with something so important and much needed???????????????????????????????
What are you talking about all over in london have those in parks.
London has also jobs, it even attracts many foreign workers and the population is expanding. You have to know what yopur priorities are.
If you were born and old enough then, what type of playing fields did Dominica have in those days?
In what manner did he fail the youths? He spoke of new fields but for TS Erika.
Do you know the saying, “Take time to do good” and “Rome was not built in a day?”
The PM stated nationals should not depend on the government to do everything. This is true. They must pull their weight and help build and enhance Dominica.
Some as you are critics but do not lift a finger to help and enhance Dominica. The norm is all-round criticisms which will not get them anywhere.
“Cluck….cluck cluck, me na call no fowl…”Bob Marley on the repute of how Massa treats their poor people. This is done when Massa have nothing to offer and to keep the subjects quiet Massa (PM) (president) throw ole food to the subjects.
This thing is a distraction and not sustainable. Is the latest of China`s handouts to us. All that travel to Asia and China – that you come back with?.
Well, here is a famous quote…..”Go to hell….go to hell….none of our Damn Business….?
This is an old broken record and an outdated one.
Let us move on to better things. The future and its plans are waiting. Do not waste time.
Facts, hush your mouth. Yourself are older than that record and you playing on repeat every day.
Will the gym be employment? we need to be employed.
The best form of exercise in Dominica is walking. If the sidewalks in Roseau and environs are fixed with the allocated funds everyone will be able to enjoy the “free gym”.
Best forms are swimming and running. Walking doesnt help you get rid of the flab in your mid section, only strenghten your gwabjam.
Is there a minister of Sports? Scare it is minister of all and public relations officer at same time. What are the tax payers paying the ministers for. Labour party is runned like a crime family with big boss skeritucci and his underworld connection in China, Venezuela, and the likes.
Is this Italian Skeritucci.
Erika name will finish one day. ALLLLLLL projects delayed because of TS Erika, my great grand grand children will be hearing that excuse.
While on sports, can we shed some light on health care facilities and processes?
Great idea – but more debt. How about creating jobs, industry, so that we can afford to pay off these massive loans? Dominica = Zimbabwe of the Caribbean.
hmmmm contract signing black is white. Well well trying to cover up boss? Lets see how far it gets u.
Anyway message me man, I am in need of a contract too. I could probably fix ur ole cabinet problems.
Sincerely,
Carpenter Watch & Wait