Over $2m raised for Grenada stadium

CONCACAF president Jack Austin Warner has already solicited over $2 million in aid for the reconstruction of the Grenada National Stadium Complex. Warner is working feverishly to assist the Grenadians in getting their stadium ready in time for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. To date, Warner has received ?10,000 (TT$100,000) from the English Football Association and another US$15,000 (TT$94,500) apart from US$12,000 (TT$64,260) from the Warner Group of Companies. Only yesterday Warner held a private meeting at his Football House, Edward Street, offices, with Health Minister Colm Imbert who assisted in constructing the stadium, recently ravaged by Hurricane Ivan.

Warner also held discussions with Bill Watson of Watson Construction Management, following which agreement was reached on a collaborative effort to ensure funding is acquired to complete construction of the stadium. Warner said after the meeting with Imbert, “the minister made it quite clear his aim was to assist Grenada in getting back their sporting facilities in the shortest possible time.” He said Imbert told him he was not only concerned with construction, but more so about assisting in funding. Minister Imbert   confirmed he met with Warner regarding the restoration of the stadium, and said this will be handled by a National Stadium Project Corporation. On the other hand, the Warner Group of Companies  yesterday sent off another shipment of relief aid to Grenada.

Included in the shipment were three generators, 12 boxes of clothing, 30 boxes of canned foods, one box of pharmaceuticals, 12 tarpaulins and 75 boxes of water costing a total of $80,000. Warner also wrote to Prime Minister Patrick Manning, asking him to use his office to have a small contingent of Custom Officers from Grenada based here, to speed up the process of shipping relief aid to the distressed island. Warner who is also a FIFA vice-president said he planned to meet with Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell today, following a meeting with Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday to further discuss plans for the Grenada stadium and other relief efforts.