Gumbs: Planned Belvedere facility will serve sports, the arts culture, youth and community

GREAT BAY--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs says Government has allocated Cg. 7 million in the 2027 budget toward the first phase (land purchase, drawings etc) of a new multifunctional indoor facility in Belvedere, with the funding intended for land acquisition and the preparation of architectural drawings and designs for a complex that will serve sports, culture, youth, education and wider community activities.

Gumbs outlined the project while answering questions from Members of Parliament during deliberations on the draft 2027 national budget. She stressed that although the project has been referred to as a sports facility, the Ministry’s vision is considerably broader, with the proposed complex intended to function as a national asset serving multiple sectors.

The Minister said the allocation included in the 2027 budget is intended for the purchase of land and the preparation of architectural drawings and designs. The land identified for the project is located in Belvedere, with the 2027 investment representing the first phase of a much larger development process.

Although the project has been referred to as a sports facility, Gumbs told Parliament that the Ministry's vision is significantly broader. The proposed complex is intended to support multiple sectors and forms part of the Ministry's objective of expanding access to modern, high-quality facilities.

The facility is envisioned as a safe, resilient and weather-resistant indoor complex capable of hosting sporting competitions, youth programs, community activities and educational initiatives. It is also intended to provide space that can be used by multiple sectors and the wider community.

Gumbs stressed that the Ministry does not view its sports, culture, youth and education responsibilities as competing priorities. Instead, the project is being developed with a multifunctional concept that could accommodate both sporting and cultural activities within the same national facility.

That broader approach could include performances and other forms of artistic expression. The Minister said the planning and design stage will provide an opportunity to determine how the needs of cultural organizations, performing arts groups and other stakeholders can be incorporated into the final concept.

The possibility of including performance and cultural spaces that can be rented or otherwise used by community organizations remains part of the broader vision for the complex.

Gumbs said one of the principal goals is to strengthen opportunities for young people by creating a facility that can support a variety of programs and activities rather than being limited to a single purpose.

The 2027 allocation does not cover full construction of the facility. It is focused on acquiring the land and completing the architectural planning necessary to establish a detailed blueprint for future stages.

Once that work is completed, the Ministry expects to have a clearer basis for determining construction requirements, operating costs and the overall scope of the project.

The planning work is also expected to help position the project for additional financing through future national budgets, public-private partnerships and external funding opportunities.

Gumbs described the proposed facility as a long-term national investment that should serve a broad section of the community. The intention is to create an asset that supports sports development, youth participation, cultural enrichment and community engagement while contributing to social cohesion and the development of human capital.

‍