Cease the fanfare and get serious about sport. This was the sentiment expressed by President of the Antigua and Barbuda Athletic Association (ABAA) and former national athlete, Everton “Mano’ Cornelius when asked about a recent announcement of government’s plans to complete a structure intended to house bathrooms at the YASCO Sports Complex by year end.
“When politicians talk, they talk about the young people and they are going to do this for the young people and they go out and win two medals and people come and hand a fanfare and they want to give you this and give you that. The athletes don’t need individual things, the athletes need a complex that when they go there on a daily basis, all of the amenities are there that they don’t have to go in the bushes, behind fences and behind buildings to relieve themselves. These are things that we as a nation of people; if we can’t come to grip with these things then I am wondering what is wrong with us,” Cornelius said.
Government’s Chief of Staff, Lionel ‘Max’ Hurst, announced two weeks ago that the structure, which started over 15 years ago, stands to be completed while the erection of a separate structure to house changing rooms and other amenities is also imminent.
Government’s announcement came on the heels of outstanding performances in both track and field and swimming disciplines at the 2025 Carifta Games held in Trinidad over the Easter weekend.
Speaking recently on the Good Morning Jojo Sports Show, Cornelius said that neither he or any of the body’s other executive member have been consulted on the work planned at the facility.
“Listen, it’s neither here or there with me but I think that if you’re doing something and you have a respect for who you are doing the something for, you engage them in discussion as to their needs and how much you can design around the needs of the people that are going to be using the facility. I think that is the right thing to do but if people see it differently then I am not going to get up and fight,” he said.
Construction of the structure was started under the previous UPP administration and left unfinished for another 10 under the current regime despite many pledges in the past to have it completed.
In January of 2022, Minister of Sports, Daryll Matthew, said that a total of $1,411,862 had been budgeted for the completion of the country’s lone track & field facility. The document also revealed that some $90,000 had been allotted for the completion of the controversial bathroom structure.
