St. George’s, April 9, 2010 – One of the men responsible for negotiating an arrangement with the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) for use of the Melville Street Basketball Court is expressing frustration that the police are not fully living up to the deal.

For some time, the RGPF has been allowing the use of the court for vehicular parking. Under an agreed plan, all vehicles were to vacate the court by 4.30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The area was to be free of parking on weekend.

However, former national footballer Kenton “Fry’’ Roberts, a long-time resident of the Melville Street and Four Roads’ community, has complained that the vehicular parking problem still persists.

“We are not getting the cooperation of the police,’’ Roberts said, pointing to at least three vehicles that were parked on site on Thursday, April 8, during a 6 p.m. community meeting that was held on a section of the open court. A group of youth was at another end playing a game of pickup basketball.

Roberts said the community would like greater access to the Melville Street Court for recreational activities such as basketball and football.

However, at the moment, free and quality use of the court for recreation is hampered by a “pile of vehicles that is always parked here,’’ Roberts said.

The RGPF-controlled compound – in an area still commonly referred to as “Back Street’’ – was once the site of a primary school. It was also formerly the premiere location for basketball in Grenada.

The 2009 panorama champions, Coyaba New Dimensions, were recently allowed temporary use of space for housing their instruments and for rehearsals.