BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - MINISTER of Youth and Health the Hon Marcella Liburd has accused some people of “playing politics” with regards to the soil erosion at her New Road Family Park initiative, especially since she had warned beforehand that the project is not yet completed.
Ground for the Park was broken earlier this year and, according to Minister Liburd, it was to have included play areas for all ages of children, a parking area and restrooms, among other things.
Far past the scheduled deadline of April 2014, the area has been levelled and only the equipment was erected.
The foundation of the Park is made of compacted dirt and owing to several bouts of rainfall over a couple of days, noticeable soil erosion took place and caused some to question the integrity of the foundation and, by extension, the safety of children visiting the area.
Last week, a press release was published by the People’s Action Movement (PAM) titled “Children’s safety put at serious risk as New Road Playground faces threat of collapse. ‘Another SHAMEFUL Election Trick Gone Bad,’ says Powell”.
The release described the New Road Family Park project as “another shameful election trick gone bad” and suggested that “the rush to construct the playfield has put thousands of young children and parents in danger and within just weeks after the opening indications are the playfield will have to be shut down”.
According to Minister Liburd however, in the middle of April, and even before that time, she had indicated that the Park was incomplete and it was not yet fit for use.
“The Park is not finished! Could we stop rain from coming? The Park is not complete. We said it was Phase One...That is why we were sending out notices asking parents not to send their children there. Make sure no children are there, and we put security there fulltime for that reason.”
She said the next Phase of the project - which is slated to begin this week - would include the construction of a retaining wall - which would prevent soil erosion - and the construction of restrooms and a parking area, among other things.
She expressed the view that by the press release and accompanying pictures, persons are “playing politics”, especially since she had taken precautionary measures in warning the public not to go onto the grounds because of the incomplete nature of the project.
Minister Liburd told SKNVibes that Phase Two is expected to be completed sometime next month.
