Lara Academy fit for use says UDECOTT head

On Tuesday, Padarath said 15,000 lives could be at risk at the official opening of the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba on May 13 featuring legendary cricketers Lara and Sachin Tendulkar.

Padarath said major questions remain outstanding on the safety of the structure, a decade after its original planned completion date.

Padarath called on Government to, “make public, all relevant documentation that the stadium and grounds were assessed and deemed safe and fit for public use.” At a media conference yesterday at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs on Elizabeth Street in St Clair, Garcia said, “I regard the statement made by Mr (Barry) Padarath to be reckless and irresponsible and I say this based on the Arun Buch report, because it was the UNC Government who in 2012 commissioned Arun Buch to do a structural survey and assessment of the Brian Lara Stadium.” Reading from the Arun Buch structural survey Garcia said, “It says in accordance with the contract between UDECOTT and Arun Buch and Associates Limited for the review of the engineering designs and, as built drawings prepared, we Arun Buch and Associates Limited have reviewed the drawings and the related civil structural engineering analysis and designs.

“We are of the opinion that the contents of the drawings are accepted as fit for purpose.” Garcia then said, “Arun Buch in a 19-volume report, thousands of pages, commissioned by the last Government found the building to be structurally fit for purpose and then to come with this (the Barry Padarath comments) to panic and bring fear to a unsuspecting public.”