The new Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association headquarters now being completed at 6 Tremaine Road, off Mountain View Avenue. Anthony Foster

The Howard Aris-led Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) executive is set to unveil what could be considered the biggest project in the history of local track and field.

The state of the art JAAA headquarters now being completed at six Tremaine Road, just above the National Stadium, will be equipped with a conference room, physiotherapy room, Internet café and library. It is set to open its doors in time for the new year.

At the start of Aris' and his executive first term in office (2004), they acquired the property with a building for $10 million, but attempts to refurbish the building failed, thus leaving them to start a new construction two years ago.

The project, which has received funding from various quarters including the National Health Fund (NHF), Puma, Supreme Ventures and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), is set to cost $41.8 million on completion. It will cost $5.8 million to furnish the facility.

$5.8 million

Bouygues Construction also chipped in to help correct a serious drainage problem.

Apart from the Internet Café and conference room, the lower floor of the two-storey building will have five offices, including that of the president.

The Internet café and library will be open for athletes, who wish to utilise the facilities during office hours.

The second floor will house a special meeting room along with a storage room and physiotherapy area.

Gregory Hamilton, an executive member of the JAAA with responsibility for the project, said: "We are substantially completed now and we are expected to finish by year end."

Phase one

The JAAA, however, said this is only phase one of the project. While a date for phase two has not yet been set, it will include a wellness centre and hostel.

Meanwhile, all but one member of the current JAAA executive are expected to be returned unopposed at this evening's annual general meeting to be held at the Rex Nettleford Hall, The University of the West Indies at 6 p.m.

Charles Fuller, who served under the Pat Anderson administration as director of records, will return in a similar capacity to the Aris-led executive.

The members of the executive are: Howard Aris (president), Grace Jackson (1st vice president), Dr. Warren Blake (2nd vice president), Vilma Charlton (3rd vice president), Dr. Winston Dawes (4th vice president), Garth Gayle (secretary), Marie Tavares (assistant secretary), Ludlow Watts (treasurer), Charlie Fuller (director of the Bureau of Records), along with executive members Maxine Brown, Bertland Cameron, Trevor Campbell, Judith Ewart, Alfred Francis, Gregory Hamilton, Edward Hector and Donald Quarrie.