Warner says $100 million is ‘laughable’

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Patrick Manning announced the figure last Wednesday when he read 2005/2006 Budget in Parliament emphasis is on upgrading a number of community-based facilities.

Among them are the Sogrin Recreation Ground in Laventille, the Eddie Hart Ground, Patna Village Ground in Diego Martin and the Lange Park Recreation Ground.

Warner said he feels there was not any serious consideration given by the PNM administration toward sports, before deciding on how much sports should be given.

"If any serious consideration or review has been given to sports and the means of sports in this country, $100 million toward sports in a $34.2 billion budget would be insignificant. There are so many areas of sports. There are 35 sports in this country and if all you have given is less than roughly $3 million toward each sport, you aren’t serious," Warner said.

The football boss said international competitions alone can be extremely costly.

He claimed further that World Cup qualifying competition that is currently ongoing, has cost his federation more than $17 million and it is not over as yet.

The CONCACAF president has single-handedly appointed and has been paying the salaries of a high profile Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker and his staff, to take this country to the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany.

And it is reported that Warner is contriburing $800,000 toward their monthly salaries and upkeep.

"Suppose that there are three other sports that is costing as much, are you saying that $100 million is enough?" he asked.

Warner, at the closing ceremony for the FA International Football Coaching Licence course on Friday, also questioned what was being done about the Mahaica Oval which has been the breeding ground for national players over the past years.

Warner noted that the Mahaica Oval has been in a deplorable state as nothing has been done to upgrade of the facility.

He also questioned how many of the community-based recreation grounds will be fully equipped with floodlights so that people can play sports for longer periods.

Warner also wanted to know how many recreation grounds would be fully equipped with dressing rooms and running water from the $100 million saying this is what people must demand. He also raised concerns about the continued maintenance or the grounds.2