St. George’s, August 11, 2011 – The Public Relations Officer of the National Democratic Congress has accused opposition MP, Roland Bhola, of dishonest posturing and of dampening the achievement of Kirani James by attempting to use his recent success in London for political spin.
“This is a low for Mr. Bhola. He’s the last person that many in parliament and in society at large would have expected to engage in such behavior,’’ said Senator Arley Gill, NDC Public Relations Officer.
James, in his first professional outing at the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palce, won the 400 meters in a world leading time of 44.61 seconds.
Bhola, in seemingly congratulating James, claimed that that the NDC administration had refused Chinese Government funding to rebuild the athletics’ section of National Stadium that was severely damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
“I was shocked and dismayed at the unbridled dishonesty of my friend, Roland Bhola,’’ Sen. Gill said. “This story of Chinese funding to rebuild the stadium was peddled before by the opposition. It was dismissed by Chinese Government officials who denied having had any agreement with the previous regime to rebuild the stadium.’’
In a statement released last year by its Embassy in St. George’s, China – which is involved in a housing construction project in Grenada – said: “It is the general practice of the Chinese Government that there could be only one major project in one country granted by the Chinese side in the same period.’’
As a result, the statement explained, “it is impossible for China to consider the Athletic Stadium Project before the accomplishment of the Low-income Housing Project with 2000 units in Grenada.’’
According to the NDC PRO, “if Mr. Bhola wants to find the recklessness and callousness of which he accuses the government, he simply has to reflect on the 13 years his party was in office before they were rejected by the electorate in July 2008.’’
Sen. Gill reiterated that it is the commitment of Sports Minister Patrick Simmons – a former national athlete – and the Government of Grenada to provide the best facilities and support for the nation’s athletes.
“For example, we have developed a National Sports Policy and installed lights at two playing fields in Grenada. Others will be lit,’’ PRO Gill said.
In addition, said Sen. Gill, “We are on record as giving our word to reconstruct a better and more modern athletic stadium, and we are well advanced in our preparations for sending our team to next year’s Olympics in London.’’
No amount of untruth could tarnish the NDC’s unquestioned interest and passion for sports and fitness and for our athletes, the PRO added.
