Thursday, March 11 2010

WHEN Roy Ramkhelawan was a boy, he clearly remembered residents of St John’s Road, Brother’s Road, New Grant, calling for the construction of a pavilion at the cricket ground in the area.

Now, Ramkhelawan is 62 and he has joined the calls for a pavilion.

The current structure the Maples Sports and Cultural Club use as a pavilion resembles a goat shed. In fact, residents and club members call the dilapidated wooden structure “The goat shed.”

Ramkhelawan said no structure could be constructed unless the land’s owner, gives his permission. “The churches use the grounds. For Divali, we have games here but no seating is available.

We have been using here for so long but it is privately owned and we need permission to construct anything,” Ramkhelawan said.

Spectators have to stand in the rain or hot sun to watch matches.

A member of the club said while they were grateful to be able to use the land for free, they needed a pavilion.

“The shed holds about 50 persons, if they are standing. We play cricket football...basically any sport here,” the club’s member said.