National Cricket Centre open for exercise

The National Cricket Centre (NCC) is now open to the public for exercise, following the decision by the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) to conduct a comprehensive review of the health, safety and security arrangements at all sport facilities under its preview in the Couva area.

The National Cycling Centre and the National Aquatic Centre are two venues in Couva used by a number of people to exercise. However, the current review being done by SPORTT will not allow members of the public to use the venues in Couva for private recreation.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board Azim Bassarath wants to encourage national citizens to live healthy and made the decision to open the NCC to the public.

Bassarath said, “The venues belong to the people of Trinidad and Tobago and you have to allow the people to use it. Hence the reason that I invited the people to use the National Cricket Centre, it is open for them. We are the ones who have to encourage our nationals to be fit and to exercise.” Bassarath said he disagreed with the decision by the Sport Company to close the facility to the public temporarily, saying the venue was paid for by tax-payers. He said there were no reports of vandalism or theft at the facility and wondered why it was being closed to persons simply wanting to exercise.

“It is disheartening to know that Mr Dinanath Ramnarine (SporTT Chairman) and the Minister of Sport (Darryl Smith) will collaborate to debar the people from using the stadium,” he said.