Belize Chided Over Deplorable State of Mexico Sports Centre

The Mexico Sports Center has been left to crumble after Hurricane Lisa caused extensive structural damage in November 2022. Nearly three years have passed, and the facility remains untouched, much to the dismay of sports stakeholders and residents who see it as an eyesore. Located just a stone’s throw from Olympic House, where the Belize Volleyball Association hosted the Central American Volleyball Federation’s AGM over the weekend, the dilapidated state of the Mexico Center was a hot topic. The issue was raised in the presence of the Minister of Sports, Rodwell Ferguson. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more on this pressing concern.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Mexico Sports Center took a heavy hit from Hurricane Lisa in November 2022, leaving the roof with significant structural damage. The plan was to temporarily close the multi-purpose sports facility for renovations, but more than two years later, it remains in a state of disrepair. Footage from Sports Monday, taken just a month before the hurricane, shows a pristine wooden basketball court and seating for fans. Today, the auditorium is unrecognizable. The wooden flooring has been removed due to water damage, the interior is exposed to the elements, and light fixtures are hanging precariously from the ceiling. An eerie silence now fills what was once a bustling gymnasium. This more than ten-million-dollar investment has been abandoned. One particularly unhappy visitor is Cristobal Marte, President of the NORCECA Volleyball Confederation, who is in Belize for the regional volleyball general assembly.

 

Cristobal Marte, President, NORCECA Volleyball Confederation

“Honorable Minister of Sports is also a part of the parliament we need you to yell, not to speak, we need you to bang you hands on the table and demand from the parliament of Belize, demand very strongly, don’t be afraid, demand very strongly for the necessary support and budget for you to do your work. I was very sad and broken hearted when I saw the Mexican Center. That is not possible. It cannot continue like that, when for almost three years it has been abandoned, it has not been even provided or received officially. It is destroyed. It is like a ghost. We need to fix that.”

 

President Marte raised the issue of the Mexico Center at the opening ceremony of the general assembly. Minister of Sports, Rodwell Ferguson, was present.

 

Cristobal Marte

“We need to do something with that, it cannot be like that. We cannot just look the other way. We have to look at it every day and we have to do something about the Mexico Center. We cannot continue to be like that. It tells bad things about Belize and you people are not bad people. We need to do something. It cannot be like that. I cannot be abandoned like that. Something like that happens in my country, I raise hell. I go to the newspaper and talk about it every day. I can even put my players to dress in black and let us go to the streets.”

 

His criticism comes at a time when many sports federations and associations are struggling with a shortage of venues to host events. In Belize’s tropical climate, the rain can be unpredictable, making the need for indoor sporting facilities even more pressing. Unfortunately, these venues are few and far between and often too expensive. Allan Sharp, President of the Volleyball Federation of Belize, emphasized this issue.

 

 

 

Allan Sharp, President, Belize Volleyball Association

“We had a fantastic meeting with the prime minister where president Marte spoke very direct in expressing what is needed in Belize. We think it he was very receptive, namely facilities, because this will be my only chance to say it publicly, facilities is the greatest challenge to volleyball and many sports in Belize.”

 

 

 

Cristobal Marte

“So I asked the minister to prepare a dossier of the story of the Mexican Center, to prepare in that dossier how it got built, where it stands, and the story of the hurricane that came and destroyed it, many pictures and something very professional. I promise him to bring that dossier to the table of the lady president of one of the biggest nations I have ever been to, Mexico. I have the channel to bring that dossier on the table of the lady president elected recently of Mexico. We are not going to lose anything. She is going to listen. What we are losing right now is the way it is, abandoned, totally abandoned.”

 

In response to Marte’s criticism and his offer to help with the rebuilding efforts, Minister Ferguson mentioned that his team at the ministry is already on it. He made it clear that the delay in renovating the Mexico Centre is due to a lack of funds.

 

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports

“I am in dialogue with Mexico and I believe that they have agreed to figure out how we can bring back the Mexico Centre to its original state. So, I take Mr. Marte advice, we are going to put the document together, we are going to see how we can get it done. He has committed that once we fix the building, he is going to put the equipment inside.”

 

 

Paul Lopez

“But how does it strike you when you pass that Mexico Centre and look at the state it is in, what does that do to you?”

 

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports

“I visit it very often and I wish I had the funds on hand to get it done but it is a bit challenging.”

 

 

 

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.