BASSETERRE − Efforts by the Ministry of Sports to minimise the damage to the field at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium from the large crowds that attended the 2018 nightly concerts of the St Kitts Music Festival were mostly successful according to Anthony Wiltshire, Director of the Department of Sports.
A special matting was placed on the grass to protect the playing surface from the patrons. This measure was particularly important given that two One-Day International cricket matches will be played on July 28 and 31 between the West Indies and Bangladesh.
This means that the grounds crew can concentrate on repairing the limited areas where boards were mounted for varying activities. Wiltshire noted that the staff has performed exceptionally well in preparing the playing surface for international matches after events in the past, and he is confident that they will live up to their reputation.
The cricket pitch was also rebuilt a few months ago by the department’s staff and Wiltshire said the staff did a commendable job. This was expressed by Ken Crafton, a pitch consultant with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), who inspected the work during a recent visit to St Kitts.
“He was here just a week or so ago and he has submitted a very good report on what is happening,” said Wiltshire. “In fact, he is satisfied with the work being done on the pitch. [There] are just a few areas that we need to work on and he is highly satisfied that we will be ready for the matches at the end of this month.”
Refurbishment is also taking place in some of the sky boxes.
“The contractor is here ensuring that all the areas that pigeons might have been able to get into are blocked up and the roofs for the various boxes have been repaired,” Wiltshire stated, noting that boxes 1 to 11 were utilised during the St Kitts Music Festival.
“We have not had any issues with the birds,” he added, citing reports during and after the concerts.
Other cosmetic repairs are being performed at the facility and Wiltshire said that he was looking forward to welcoming patrons to the stadium for the matches. Matches will be held at Warner Park on August 28 and 30, as well as September 1, 2 and 4. (SKNIS)
