Additional facilities for the National Sports Centre could be put on hold depending on what the Board of Trustees are instructed to do with the $5 million earmarked for the project in this year's Budget.

Chairman of the Board, Donald Lines, said yesterday they were awaiting word from Government on how the funds were to be spent and on whether consideration was still being given to an astroturf pitch and other sports facilities not in the original plan for the Centre.

Sources have indicated that the money is to settle a loan which was used to build the complex at Frog Lane, thereby leaving little or no cash to continue development.

"They have put a capital grant of $5 million in the Budget and we do have a loan which was just under $5 million. The question is whether they want to pay off the loan - which was left unsaid - or whether they want to pay part of the loan and use the other part of the $5 million to continue development. I don't know. It could be either way," said Lines.

The chairman noted that, except for the pavilion "which has been held up", the trustees have completed all aspects of their mandate as far as the project is concerned. However, he acknowledged that when construction began on the Centre in 1995, "the then Minister of Sports had an interest in having some additional things done".

"Whether or not we go ahead with those things is something I need to talk to the current minister about," said Lines, adding that "personally speaking" he does not think the project should stop at this stage.

At present, Lines disclosed that the trustees are $1.6 million under the overall budget they were given by Government to complete the project. He reasoned that this amount should "just about" cover the cost of building the pavilion. Regarding why that segment of work remains incomplete the chairman disclosed there had been problems with various contractors and the Board decided to suspend work.

"We had three abortive attempts to get it built but we were not going to spend more than we were authorised to spend so we put a hold on it. I am fairly confident that Government wants us to complete it but it's up to them to decide if we go ahead and how."

Lines noted that not only had the Board been prudent in handling the project's finances but also in meeting deadlines for various components of the Centre.

"We delivered the western stands about two weeks before the date that we said we would and we've done everything else, including put up lights which had not been anticipated. Right now, we're just finishing up some remedial work on the project, like the track in front the grandstand and taking down some fences."

The trustees, he said, were preparing a breakdown of all costs in a report for Government.