Hinds welcomes National Stadium track upgrade but questions timing

Opposition Spokesperson on Sport, Wavell Hinds, has welcomed the decision to upgrade the National Stadium track but is raising concerns about the timing, citing potential disruptions to athletes.

“Jamaican athletes have made this country proud time and time again, often excelling despite infrastructure challenges,” Hinds said. “They deserve top-tier facilities that not only meet international standards but are also maintained in a way that doesn’t disrupt their training and competition schedules.”

The Gibson McCook Relays, set for today, will be the final event before work begins on Sunday morning. With the high school championships just weeks away and key track meets scheduled through June, Hinds questioned why the project was not scheduled for July, a period with fewer major events.

The upgrade also comes ahead of the Kingston leg of the Grand Slam Track series, which will be held at the National Stadium from April 4–6.

“While aesthetics are important, they shouldn’t be the only determining factor in this decision,” added the People's National Party spokesman. "There’s no doubt that the track needs attention, but the current surface does not pose any performance concerns. Instead of rushing to start this project now, a more comprehensive approach should have been taken to address other facility needs as well. A properly laid track can last over a decade, and we must ensure this upgrade is done right.”

Hinds also raised concerns about whether the resurfacing will meet international certification standards, warning of potential consequences for local athletes.

“There are also concerns about whether the resurfaced track will meet the necessary certification standards from international governing bodies,” he said. “If the track fails to meet these requirements, it could mean that times, records, and qualifications achieved by our athletes would not be officially recognised. That would be a serious blow to our sporting fraternity, and we must ensure that every aspect of this upgrade is done with precision and compliance in mind.”

The last major resurfacing of the track was in 2011, and Hinds stressed that any investment in national sporting infrastructure should be a long-term commitment, not a temporary fix.

“Our athletes continue to put Jamaica on the global stage, and they deserve more than patchwork upgrades. This should have been a well-planned project that prioritises both quality and timing in the best interest of our sporting community.”

Minister of Sport, Olivia Grange, announced that the latest assessment has shown that there is an urgent need to completely resurface the track and there is an opportunity between the end of today’s Gibson McCook Relays and the start of the March 25-29 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) to get the job done.

She said that Independence Park Limited, which manages the stadium complex, will ensure speedy implementation of the project working alongside Grand Slam Track.

Grange said the Government secured funding amounting to US$350,000 for the project.

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.