GC Foster commissions $15m flooring
GC Foster College commissioned its newly laid $15,000,000 world class flooring at its gymnasium last Thursday in a ceremony attended by the Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites.
Minister Thwaites commended the college for replacing the court using local labour. He said that “it was the dream that within the next few years GC Foster College will become the Jamaican Sports University”.
Principal Edward Shakes said that the college was pleased to be able to replace the flooring out of its own coffers, as well as use local labour to complete the job. He said that at 6,000 sq ft or 1,128 sq m it is the latest gymnasium in Jamaica. The leaking roof of the 34-year-old institution was also repaired at a cost of $4.62 million from the Sports Development Foundation (SDF). According to Shakes the leaky roof contributed significantly to the detonation of the floor.
He also indicated that the newly laid floor was the third for the gym. The previous one lasted for 15 years, but he expects the current one to last for 30 years with appropriate maintenance.
The gym has been used extensively over the years for several sport, including netball, basketball, volleyball, badminton and futsol.
In the past it hosted the Sunshine Girls in Tests and other matches against countries such as England and Australia. It also hosted the Venus International and Star Search Basketball, as well as several intercol sporting events.
When asked about the track, Shakes said that he is “hopeful that the work will start this year and be completed in time for the track season. He said further that the foundation would have to be replaced in addition to the running track.”
The SDF had allocated the necessary funds to do the work. This will boost the college’s ability to earn some funds when the track
is replaced.
Rosa Joseph, chairman of the college, advised that funds are still being sought to complete the pool, and repair and improve the dormitories to make them attractive for local students, as well as the foreign students it expects to attract in the future.
