Taiwan to rebuild Grenada stadium

ST GEORGE’S: Taiwan has pledged to rebuild Grenada’s stadium complex that was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in September. The Far East country is providing US$40 million, and a team of engineers is expected on the island for assessment and design. Taiwan’s Ambassador to Grenada Alan Lii-Shang Jiang made this disclosure on Tuesday when he presented the money to Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell. “This money is for the rebuilding of the Grenada national stadium that will be completely finished in the year 2006, because Grenada will host the ICC World Cup,” the Ambassador said. He added: “A Taiwanese engineering team will be arriving in Grenada before the end of the month, they will come here to design and also assess the stadium.” In thanking the Taiwan government for the donation, Mitchell reiterated to the Grenadian people the importance of rebuilding the stadium complex, that includes the Queen’s Park cricket ground and the adjoining football and track and field stadium, ahead of the World Cup.

“For those who said that we shouldn’t be talking about a new stadium, we want to say to them that if we did not have a stadium that money would not be there,” he said. “This is money committed to a stadium and the additional support of the government and people of Taiwan would have come regardless of if a stadium was there or not.” During a tour of the facility in the aftermath of the hurricane, FIFA’s Senior Vice-President Jack Warner promised to raise money to assist in the rebuilding of the complex that is among regional venues  selected to host matches in the ICC World Cup West Indies 2007. Grenada is one of three countries that have received extra regional assistance in their preparations for the global event. Guyana is building its new cricket ground with help from the Indian government, and Antigua and Barbuda are also constructing a new facility with assistance from the Chinese government. (CMC)