MYSCC within the National Assembly visits the Roche Caïman sports complex |13 October 2023

Visiting Stad Linite (Photo: Roland Duval)

‘Extensive repairs needed due to lack of proper maintenance,’ says MNA Woodcock

Despite the ongoing efforts by the government, through the National Sports Council, to repair the various local sporting facilities and venues, major work still needs to be done to get them to the required standard, and this is the result of lack of proper maintenance in the past.

The above statement was made yesterday by elected member of the National Assembly (MNA) Wavel Woodcock in his capacity as the chairperson of the Media, Youth, Sports and Culture Committee (MYSCC) within the National Assembly, shortly after visiting the Roche Caïman sports complex to see some of the renovation work that has been carried out, and also to enquire about future restoration plans for the facilities which most of them are in a very bad state.

The role of the MYSCC is to ensure monitoring and analysis of policy, administration and the budget of the media, youth, sports and culture departments of the government, as well as to scrutinise matters within the ministerial portfolio of media, youth, sports and culture.

Other than Mr Woodcock, its other members are elected MNA for Anse Boileau Phillip Arissol (vice-chairperson), elected MNA for Au Cap Kelly Samynadin, elected MNA for Pointe Larue Conrad Gabriel, proportionally-elected MNAs Naddy Zialor, Flory Larue and Wilbert Herminie.

During yesterday’s visit where they toured the Palais des Sports, Stad Linite, the tennis courts, the swimming pool, and the Omni-Sports gymnasium, the MYSCC delegation was accompanied by chief executive of the National Sports Council (NSC) Marc Arissol, director general strategic human resources within the youth and sports department Gyra Nibourette, along with other ministry officials.

Mr Woodcock explained that yesterday’s visit was a follow-up on a previous one carried out last year and its main purpose was to see and discuss the status of the renovation work, and also to discuss on the possibilities of having new sports facilities on Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue.

He said they are satisfied with the ongoing progress, but however acknowledged that there is still a lot of work to be done, based on the state of the facilities due to poor maintenance over the years.

Mr Woodcock said they have been briefed that most of the renovation work on the various facilities will be carried out in phases, therefore will not be completed by next year, but rather the year after.

He added that as MNAs they understand the need for an elevated budget for the sports ministry in order to carry on with the renovation projects, despite the involvement of, and contributions from international organisations and partners.

Mr Woodcock further noted that the government does not really have a choice, but to invest in renovating the facilities to prevent further deterioration.

Roland Duval