IT WAS AN ERRORBy NEWSDAY REPORTER Monday, February 8 2010
BURIED in the middle of an address to the nation last night, in which the Government praised itself for all it was doing for the development of sports and young people in the country, came the admission by Sports Minister Gary Hunt that the controversial $2 million flag erected at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, was an “error”.
The address which lasted all of nine minutes, was replete with accomplishments of the Sports Ministry under Hunt's tenure and only 30 seconds out of the address was devoted to his startling admission of the stadium flag “error”.
Hunt said he has instructed the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) to ensure, “that such an error would never happen again”.
But he gave no detail whatsoever as to exactly what the “error” was neither did he elaborate on who was responsible for the “error”.
He did not indicate whether it was the $2 million cost of the flag, which infuriated the public, as being the “error” or whether the “error”, was made by the Sports Company.
Having made this admission, Hunt immediately moved quickly away from that issue to singing the praises of all that his ministry and the Government had done for sports in which he also listed the achievements of our sportsmen and women.
The address came abruptly at the end of the 7 pm television news broadcast and took everyone by surprise as it was not previously announced.
On August 4, a proud Hunt unveiled the nylon 60x36 feet flag which he said was intended to be seen from far away to instil in the people a sense of national pride.
When the furore over the cost of the flag arose and faced with the cost of whether or not the flag cost $2 million, Hunt initially said he could not confirm the price but added that even if the $2 million was true, it was money well spent.
But as the controversy spread, with Hunt even deciding to defend his ministry, his government and the $2 million flag on his Facebook account, a press conference was called on Wednesday November 4, attended by Hunt and SPORTT chairman Kenneth Charles to clear the air on the issue.
At the press conference, Hunt admitted that the cost of the flag was indeed $2 million and then he left it up to Charles to explain details of the flag. Charles reading from a prepared text, said that Fire One Fire Works, the contractor, was given the tender to design and construct the flag because of their competitive price.
He said Fire One Fire Works bettered bids by two other companies — Phabha Sports of the United States and Excellent Technologies of TT.
Charles then gave the following details:
* The flag, which is made from nylon and measures 60 x 36 feet, cost $18,112.15, VAT inclusive;
* Foundation and installation works— $940,000;
* Design and supply of monster flag pole— $932,400
* Three additional flags— $54,336.
According to Charles, the contractor encountered swampy conditions where the flagpole was planted. On excavation, the contractor met water at a depth of six feet. This work saw excavation being done at a depth of 20 x 20 x 15 feet to accommodate a foundation that needed 400 tonnes of reinforced concrete, two tonnes of steel reinforcement and blue stone granular backfill.
Charles revealed the flag will have to be changed every four to six months because of weather conditions. It means that within this time-frame, Government will have to fork out another $18,000 every time to change the flag.
At that press conference, Hunt said the legacy flag was created as a reminder of the great achievements of sporting heroes Hasely Crawford, Ato Boldon, Brian Lara and Richard Thompson, among many others, who represented the red, white and black of Trinidad and Tobago.
He said the flag for many of the country's patriotic citizens is not merely a pole and a piece of fabric, but rather a respected symbol of the nation. “Every day the flag flies it is in itself damage control,” Hunt said, when asked if there was need for damage control in response to the public outcry.
But in his address to the nation last night, Hunt said he had directed SPORTT not to let this “error” happen again. Hunt failed to indicate what will happen to the $2 million flag when it starts to deteriorate because of wear and tear and if another new flag would be erected.
Hunt’s brief admission last night has left more questions than answers.
