Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, has reassured the public that the resurfacing of the running track at the National Stadium is progressing as planned and will be completed on schedule.

Following reports of a delay due to late shipments of materials and equipment, Minister Grange visited the facility at Independence Park on Wednesday to assess the progress and engage in discussions with representatives from Rekortan, the company responsible for the resurfacing project.

“We’re on track based on the work plan and the timelines that have been established,” said Minister Grange, in a statement late Thursday, following her discussions with Rekortan’s Vice President for the North American region, Doug Stone. She noted that the team was confident in their ability to complete the resurfacing in time for the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championships (Champs).

“The team that’s here from Rekortan, which includes the vice president, is very confident that they will complete the work in time for Champs. They showed me the work plan, walked me through it, and indicated some of the issues that exist on the ground. They have found some areas where they need to cut out and treat, and they’ll work day and night to meet the deadlines,” Minister Grange stated.

The Rekortan team, working alongside Independence Park Limited, has already begun necessary preparatory work, including washing the track. Minister Grange indicated that additional cleaning and inspections were ongoing to identify specific areas requiring special treatment.

Addressing concerns about the upcoming CONCACAF Champions Cup match scheduled for March 13 at the National Stadium, the Minister assured that the football fixture had been factored into the resurfacing schedule and would not impact the project’s timeline.

“The date for the football is also a part of the [work] plan, so they’ve factored that in, which means that it will not affect the work going on,” she explained.

Minister Grange expressed her confidence that the project would be completed on time, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Caption: The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange (left), discussing the resurfacing of the running track at the National Stadium with the Vice President for the North American region for Rekortan, Doug Stone.