The big question that people are asking is "will the Civic Center be demolished?" While we don't know the answer to that question yet, what we do know is that ministry of works engineers have determined that the Civic is unsafe for mass gatherings.
They didn't need Einstein or even a T-square for that one! The place has been run down for the past decade.
Seven News caught up with Mr. Anthony Michael Director of the Sports Council and he told us that the engineers report submitted to him clearly shows that it is not fit to be used for the September Celebrations.
Anthony Michael Director of the Sports Council
"Their suggestions is not to have any concert that creates dynamic forces, that means a lot of jumping up, because we have had reports that some people would actually feel the floor being moved. After we finish here you can take a look at some of the pillars and the structures and the strength outside and the base material, basically have been totally rotted out for several reasons; lack of maintenance over the years; salt air, we are right at sea level. So the engineers have looked at that. There are also concerns about the electrical condition. An electrical engineer should be arriving today or tomorrow to look at the electrical problems within the City Center along with the fire department; to look at the safety conditions of the City Center. The key thing in when you are doing buildings including your homes, including streets and drains, including infrastructure in this case the city center, one has to take in consideration that once you build there needs to be allocated some funds for maintenance and I think over the years we have seen where constructions are being done within our country and there are a lack of maintenance that have been applied to that. At the long term it ends up costing tax payers more money. In this case over years for whatever reasons civic center was poorly maintained."
While two of the biggest events of the September Celebrations which were scheduled to take place at the Civic Center this weekend have had to find new venues, it was no secret that the Civic Center has been slowly weakening. Producer and Promoter of the Sound Fest Mr. Tony Wright told us that the change in venue has so far been in his favour:...
Tony Wright, Producer and Promoter of the Sound Fest
"The venue will be Birds Isle instead of the civic. We will be having the same show. we'll be having the red carpet, we'll be having television there and the excitement building up in fact just yesterday we got a call from Supa G who was not on the line up and he call and say that he wants to perform on the island so put me on the list in the lineup. So even Supa G we have on board now. It's the same line up. I think it will be much better; it's the place, the air is refreshing. So I think it will be a major show. Everybody is ready, Lucio and the New Generation are ready, Youth Connection is ready and everybody is all excited and ready to go. When I mention it on the radio that the venue will change to Bird's Isle, one lady call and say that she will tell her people to come from Chicago because that is where they wanted to go a long time. Every disappointment is for the better and so I think the change couldn't be better for us. It will be an open air thing and the musicians are all excited about the change, the stage is there and the floor was fixed. Everything seems well for us."
The Queen of the bay pageant has also been moved from the City Center.
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