Vandals cause damage at
French Quarter stadium
MARIGOT--Vandals have caused damage estimated at thousands of euros to the brand new French Quarter soccer stadium, it was learnt on Wednesday.
It was not clear exactly when the incident had occurred, but at least half a dozen panes in the glass barriers that divide sections of the bleachers inside the stadium were smashed, while two of the glass-front ticket booths at the entrance were also broken and graffiti were sprayed on doors.
The entrance was also strewn with broken bottles and other debris.
The stadium, inaugurated by Mayor Albert Fleming on May 26 following an extensive renovation, should have been the pride and joy of French Quarter and a beacon of hope for disaffected youth. It had been in a derelict state since the hurricanes of 1995, as the Commune had not had the financial resources to repair it for many years.
However, a very different picture of the stadium emerged yesterday, at odds with its smart appearance and new astro-turf on the pitch. Accusations of cost-cutting and rejection of features requested in the renovation plans by sports officials were rife. Instead, what has apparently turned out is a cheap, unfinished stadium.
Commenting on the vandalism, Director of Sports Lou Baly pointedly suggested the vandalism could have been prevented if requested security measures had not been rejected.
“The stadium as it is today contradicts what the majority of sports people wanted,” Baly stated. “The original architect that our department wanted was denied. A lot of technical aspects were overlooked and several suggestions we came up with were denied by the then commissioner of finance. The entrance is not what it should be. For example, we asked for much wider gates for emergency vehicles to get in, but didn’t get them.”
“Facilities for players are inadequate,” he continued. “There are walls that a five- year-old child can fall over that still have to be made higher. Players come off the field exactly where the spectators are and when emotions are high that’s dangerous. We already had an accident a month ago. The stadium is only three-quarters finished.”
Baly said replacing the glass for the barriers would be “very expensive.”
Also expressing despair over the incident was Tigers Football Club President Julius Bryan.
“They, the officials, rushed to open this stadium before it was secure, and now you see what can happen,” said Bryan bitterly. “Anybody can get in, day or night. I felt so strongly about the shortcomings that I didn’t attend the opening.”
Bryan said he wanted to see a proper secure fence installed around the perimeter of the stadium to prevent access, and even the employment of security guards.
He added that a child had become stuck in the revolving gate at the entrance a few weeks ago and the Fire Brigade had had to use the “jaws of life” to prise open the bars to get the child out, adding to the damage caused by the vandals.
Bryan said shortcuts taken with the stadium only undermined the work that was being done to help the youth.
“French Quarter is always the victim, always last on the list, always on the back burner,” he complained. “Every other district gets attention before French Quarter. There has never been anything done to help the youth along and it’s those in charge who are to blame.”
Bryan said he fully intended to raise the issue with the President of the Collectivité.
