Work underway to upgrade sports facilities on Brac

| 13/02/2014

(CNS): The tourism minister is hopeful that Cayman Brac can also benefit from the sport tourism boom. From CONCACAF tournaments and beach volleyball to ultra-marathons and international kite surfing contests, Grand Cayman is attracting competitors, officials and fans in variety of sports but Moses Kirkconnell is also pushing through upgrades in his Sister Islands constituency, with improvements to the Brac playing field which will enable international football matches to be played there. The minister responsible for district administration and tourism has around a half million dollars allocated for the upgrades in the 2013/14 budget.

The contract to construct three changing room buildings, a cistern and a parking area was tendered in December and has been awarded to locally-based Dixon Construction. Building works are expected to finish in June 2014

Kirkconnell said the new amenities were necessary for the creation of sports tourism-related opportunities and were an important part of the government’s vision for stimulating economic growth in the Sister Islands.

“The PPM government has an established record of sports development which includes the installation of the FIFA-certified artificial turf surface at the Cayman Brac Playing Field, portable fencing, temporary bleachers, tents, flag poles and shelters, which have all been provided and future works will include one additional changing room to bring the total number to four,” he said. “These enhancements have opened up a myriad of opportunities for Cayman Brac, including the ability to host CONCACAF and other international tournaments in the future.”

The minister confirmed that construction of an entry road to the facility and the provision of an IAAF Athletics Track will be undertaken as part of future development plans.

Work completed to date includes FIFA-standard sports complex lighting, which allows teams to practice beyond early evening and matches to be played after dark. The four pole perimeter system is currently angled to provide 800 lux illumination, which closely replicates daylight and is preferred by television broadcast networks, officials said.

“I am very excited about the upgrades at the playing field and view the funding to provide these amenities as a necessary investment and a great community service,” Kirkconnell said. “The new buildings and enhancements will significantly improve the atmosphere at games and will hopefully encourage more spectators to watch the matches and come out to support their family members and friends."

Around $550,000 was allocated in FY13/14 budget to complete contract payments on the playing field lights as well as to improve the facility, install fencing, bleachers, tents, flag poles, officials and team shelters and FIFA goal posts.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    How much extra does it cost to get to FIFA certification level?  Because that is a total waste of money.

  2. Anonymous says:

    It is incredible how much hatred Caymanians show for thier fellow man, you even show hatred and bigotry for your own countrymen. Caymanian against Expat, Brother against brother, district against district, it seems that hatred, Bigotry and envy it as much a part or your culture as the things you claim to be losing. This will ultimately be your undoing and is why you are losing your Island little by little. The Cayman islands will continue to grow and flourish but a people who have no love and compasion for thier fellow man will wither and die.

  3. Anonymous says:

    I cannot believe the hatred towards the Brac from the other commenters. Yes, the Brac is not a huge revenue generator, but believe it or not, we deserve something other the Grand Cayman’s hand-me-downs. The elected members are for all three islands, not just Grand Cayman. I for one am glad the Mr. Moses is doing something for his own island; for his own people; for me. I applaud Mr. Moses for doing what he can to make the Brac’s economy a striving one. If no one here can agree with me, you are being nothing but hypocritical. You call the Brac a “drain on public funds”, yet are furious that he is trying to rectify the problem. The arrogance of some Caymanians is staggering. You act as if Grand Cayman is the only island that exists. This is the attitude that causes many Brackers to look down on people from Grand Cayman. Unlike a previously elected member from the sister islands who did nothing but fall in with the corrupt (O’something was her name I believe), Mr. Moses will do something for us. I am glad that someone with the brains, drive and love for his island is in a position to help the Brac. Congratulations Mr. Moses, and thank you.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Wow as Caymanians you really are a bunch of haters aren't you. Probably run of to Miami and New York every chance you get and have never even visited the Sister islands. Happy to sit and run your mouth on here though like you know it all.

  5. Anonymous says:

    What you bunch of yahoos don't get is that it takes money to make money so let me spell it out for you.  W h e n C a y m an B r a c get this they can make money with Sports Tourism and won't need the so called substainance from Grand Cayman that all of you whiners keep whining about. Or do you all always want to whine and complain and keep Brackers down?

    • Anonymous says:

      It will never happen. The Brac is too bloody expensive!!! You all don't want change, but want the perks of progress. IT WILL never happen. Its a ghost town and will always be one.

    • Anonymous says:

      The Brac won't make one cent from sports tourism.  He is just using the buzzword of the month.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Lest you all forget… we are called the "Cayman Islands."

    Look at you all in Grand Cayman… who do you think built you? My, my, my how we forget so quickly.  If it weren't for wealthy Braccas, Grand Cayman would be nothing.  It is we who made you, so now it's time for some return on our investment.

    The only wasted money I see is the time you are taking to type your negative comments instead of doing some work.

     

    Enjoy.  

    • Anonymous says:

      So why didn't these rich "Bracca's" build the Bracs economy???? Because they new it had NO potential!

    • Anonymous says:

      Lest you forget, the Brac is part of the Lesser Caymans.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Thank you Mr. Kirkconnell for giving my son and his friends a chance to be part of a real sports program just like his cousins have always had in Cayman.  

    As parents we can see how important hope and opportunity are for our children.  And a real sports field goes a long way to making it real for them.

  8. Anonymous says:

    cayman brac= welfare state

  9. Anonymous says:

    People here are missing the point about the Brac don’t have nothing to contribute to cig govt $$$! We can contribute a (Green) & historical way of life, the way our four father lived & a safe unpopulated tranquil destination etc! Tourist leave there hectic way of life to relax not be in the same environment they ran from similar to what (Grand Cayman) cannot offer! 9th Generation Bracka

  10. Anonymous says:

    9% of the population, 3% of the economy.  The Brac is a just a drain on public funds.  This is vote buying.

    • Anonymous says:

      Sorry, but you must have failed math. 9% of the population? The population of the country is just shy of 57,000. 9% of 57,000 is 5,130, which is much more than the 2,000 that live here. Based on that, the Brac has about 3.5% of the country's population and 3% of the "economy". Not bad considering all the off-shore banks on Grand

      • Anonymous says:

        Plug in the % of the Caymanian population and the original poster is quite right.

        • Anonymous says:

          Do the math. He is still wrong. If you assume that all of the 21,000 expats live on Grand Cayman, the Caymanian population of the island would be about 35,000. 9% of 35,000 is 3,150, which is about 63.5% more than the actual population of Cayman Brac. Continuing the assumption that the Brac has no expats, a population of 2,000 Caymanians would put us at about 5.7% of the Caymanian population of the Cayman Islands. This percentage is still far less than the percent that OP has stated. Furthermore, the 5.7% would drop even further if you quit assuming that all expats are on Grand Cayman.

          So yes, OP was still wrong, and so are you.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Most of you posters knowing little to nothing about Cayman Brac. You've probably never even been to the Brac. This sports field is used nearly every day for one thing or another. These changing rooms will provide sanitary facilities for CAYMANIAN children.

    • Anonymous says:

      I thought they were Bracca children?!! After all, you all always make a distinction between Caymanians and Braccas.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Moses you are taking the piss! 

  13. Anonymous says:

    WHY? If Moses wants all the improvements to feather his kingdom in Cayman Brac get him to use his own funds.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Another waste of money!!!

    The Brac contributes little if any to the Governments revenue. But millions are wasted there, all in the name of politis.

  15. Anonymous says:

    That could be money used to remediate our DUMP PROBLEM. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Moses has his agenda for Cayman Brac.  Why are our politicians not doing more in Grand Cayman, where all the revenue is collected.  Cayman Brac contributes nothing, not even enough to pay one month's salary.

      Stop wasting money on a few hundred people, who are always expecting to get everything that is provided where the revenue is collected. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Go Moses, get whatever you can get for the Brac. After all, it's just another district of the Cayman Islands.

        These nay sayers are suffering from xenophobia,Dartophobia,Bracophobia.

        I have never seen a people so self distructive to their own.

        Who stopped the Scott brothers from putting that dock on the NW point of Cayman Brac? they should be publicly whipped.

        Mr. Moses please keep doing what you are  doing. Get those two marinas going, the airport improvement for the lesser Islands.

        These project will difinitely take away work from  from Grand Cayman, maybe this has been the problem all these years.

        Show your cohuness… Moses

  16. Anonymous says:

    I'm glad to see the Brac positioning themselves to take part in the growing sports tourism industry.  We've been enjoying the increased business from it in Cayman, and it's great to see our own kids excited to be involved.

    • Anonymous says:

       I'm glad to see the Brac be included in the devolopment of the Cayman Islands. Please remember that the investment into SPORTS, is a investment in our KIDS, which would you rather see kids do joining a gang , or playing a real good game of football ?  Please dont discurage the minister from doing this kind of work . It is better than building cruise ship dock in george town , this would benifit the criuse lines only . Mr Minister remember to spend our money wisely and you will get my vote next time if you do !