The George Odlum National Stadium (GONS) in Vieux-Fort is earmarked for a transformational rehabilitation process under the Philip J. Pierre-led Administration.
For too long, our athletes have been disadvantaged and deprived of the full use of the GONS.
In 2023, the Prime Minister took deliberate action to initiate the long-delayed rehabilitation works on the GONS.
He successfully negotiated a USD $75 million loan from the Saudi Fund for Development. The loan will finance construction and rehabilitation works on the St. Jude Hospital Reconstruction Project (SJHRP) and the GONS.
During his presentation of the 2024/25 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure on March 26, 2024, Prime Minister Pierre outlined the concrete action the government will take to restore the GONS and return it to our athletes and footballers.
Preparatory work on the GONS is expected to commence in the 2024/25 fiscal year.
The Prime Minister has committed $2.5 million from the 2024/25 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for stadium design, supervision services and site preparation works.
The commencement of preparatory works on the GONS is contingent on the relocation of the operations of the St. Jude Hospital to its original site in Augier, Vieux-Fort.
The Prime Minister understands the importance of managing state assets like the GONS prudently and efficiently.
The government will draw down from the loan from the Saudi Fund for Development to commence the subsequent construction phases on the GONS upon completion of the relevant preparatory works and after securing the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities.
The public can rest assured our athletes can look forward to benefitting from the use of a fully restored and first-class sporting facility.
Under the Prime Minister’s leadership, Saint Lucia will regain the capacity to host regional and international sporting competitions in the GONS.
Prime Minister and Min. for Finance, Hon. Philip J. Pierre, leads a Cabinet of Ministers and heads a government that continues to demonstrate its commitment to youth and sports development in Saint Lucia.
SOURCE: Office of the Prime Minister. Photo: Aerial view of George Odlum National Stadium.
Indeed…GONS are the days…if it’s anything to go by, Jamaica has shown what can be achieved when a government takes a keen interest in developing sports ..now the Jamaicans are brand names the world over and have left an indelible mark on sporting history…why? Because for decades they were working assiduously in the background developing their athletes, while most Caribbean countries did nothing…I guess it’s a case of better late than never for Saint Lucia. I look forward to seeing the fruits of our Labour Government…..🤪
Great ! Good news, now we can host The Carifta Games like Grenada just did, we can finally see our Sprint Queen and the hidden Usain Bolt’s on home turf for a change. St Lucia’s track and field dominance has been stifled for too long, this will the best thing happening for our athletes because we have so much talent but they lack the facilities to give them the opportunity to showcase themselves. Sports for many will be the opportunity they have been waiting for to uplift themselves out of poverty. They can host Jazz in the South right there, everything does not need to be up North. Can you imagine some Yellow Fool wanted to tear this down just like they did the multi million dollar state of the art meat processing plant, I mean the gull of this Clown only we alone throw away money like that. look at the horse track right next door a national disgrace, left up to me I would hog tie his ass and bring him down there give a cutlass and a pair of water boots and send him to deforest the place shot gun style so he could understand what it feels like to have callous in the palm of his hands, they would never want me in certain position they would hate me, I would make Fredrick and Alva look like choir boys.
$2.5 million allocation. $2million consultancy fees, .5 million for civil works. Check the estimates of expenditure page 691 if you think I’m lying!
Good iniative. So why are you painting before renovating the compromised roof and walls? Mwen meme
WHAT ABOUT YHE ROADS???????
Oh goody goody gum drops. Hosting international events that will put St Lucia on the map but wait I have a prophecy. Where are the roads to transport this plethora of athletic talent to their accommodation. Whops I forgot the government promised to do the roads in the new year All the roads so not a problem after all. Pierre and King seen working!
It’s a great idea but I know everything down south takes forever. We hv a hospital and an international Airport. They both are in limbo. A hospital both administrations use as a cash cow. When which ever administration is done with st judes I hope it is a 5 🌟 hospital.
St. Lucia government has hosted about five events to date, maybe more. They must have a strategy there because too many health institutions are without basic medications for months and our roads are in a deplorable state. Meanwhile they are playing big short. How much monies were spent on hosting all of them? What did we benefit from all this?
Stop that rubbish, that Hospital needs completing and in service before all u can start trying to pee in the 👀 of Lucians once again….choooops
We need to also need to look at the Phillip Marcellian Stadium in Vieux Fort, was there during the Senior Games, the last stadium roof is in very poor shape, the pillars at the rear supporting the roof are all rotten, it’s a nightmare waiting to happen
Thank you alligator 🙏
I hope there is a plan in place with proper studies, architectural drawings and not some waste of time and money project. You scratched my back and I’ll scratch yours.
Finish one project and then start another ..so many unfinished projects all over…smh
My late ‘brother George’ the best Goal Keeper in my time before his political days. His name remains his politics left but a shadow of it remains in a shroud. George left us too soon, whatever his vision and that of FIDEL’S the ‘Grimm Ripper’ took away. I met with Manley and Eric at the West Indian Students Centre in London; Eric was only about Trinidad x 1000 times over; Sir Grantley Adams of Barbados was the most Stately. Georges name will still remain in the annals of our Political History, while the most anticipated West Indian Federation remained as a Pipe dream. The dream of a Stadium named after ‘Brother George’ never took steam back then for many reasons I wouldn’t go into; I have in the past voiced my concerns Re that monstrosity, its Design, construction, its intended use and present usage;
To me it seems ridiculous and laughable to travel half way round the world for a piddly loan from the Soudi Nation who normally deal with tens of millions & billions, all you got was it $2.5M? why bother. Many may not like what I’m about to say but however, millions was spent to build what is considered to be a Modern Hospital in that same area, the opposing team won the last Elections and they immediately put an end to construction which is said to have had less than a year for completion. Why are my people resorting to such pettiness, irrespective of political affiliation, we’re all St. Lucians how difficult is it to put aside our hate, our dislike and classism for the better good of one and all? the LORD said “one commandment I give to all, LOVE ONE ANOTHER”
Freat! Now can we please relocate this stadium from this GHASTLY location.
Shut you’ll mouth everything don’t happen one time
I thought the last administration had spent over a million to renovate the stadium. Its not three years yet. Think about all the money spent fixing roads just before last elections. It’s not three years yet, and roads are in such deplorable conditions. Our treasury is being drained, and there is nothing to show for it. Contracts are given to political supporters irrespective of their qualifications. Political hacks are complicit in the schemes. We need to put politics on a side, and demand accountability for every penny spent.