The long-promised statue of track icon and Trelawny native Usain Bolt is now one step to becoming a reality after work started on the project.
Since last week, teams from the Jamaica Defense Force’s (JDF) engineering division have been on the ground carrying out work to, in the first instance, build out the base of the facility on which Bolt’s statue will stand in historical Water Square, Falmouth.
This phase of the project is expected to last at least four months. While the cost for the project has yet to be ascertained, funding for the project is said to be a joint venture between the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and SportMinistry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and the local municipal corporation.
The development is said to be welcomed in all sectors of the parish given that residents have longed called for the statue, which will represent the man who has gone on to bring international recognition to the space, in particular, his home community of Sherwood Content.
At a recent meeting of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation, the clearest indication was given that the work would have started on the project, which was announced years ago as a means to highlight the parish of the world record holder.
“We expected that in May of this year, the project will officially start with the Jamaica Defense Force on board,” Chief Executive Officer for the Corporation, Winston Palmer, had announced at the meeting.
“The base for the statue and the materials have started to arrive, and these are housed at the Roads and Works Department. Certain other materials will be delivered as soon as that container arrives,” he further added about the development.
Currently, the ongoing work will see some changes to the space, which also houses the famous fountain from which the space has been named. Reports indicate that the fountain will remain a prominent feature of the area and be part of a new look town centre that is expected to boost the tourism credentials of the town.
When completed, the area will be lit, and there are expected to be storyboards to tell the history of Usain Bolt and his exploits, and also there will be information about the historic fountain as well.
