They don?t have the money to build yet but Government yesterday set aside $7 million to prepare for constructing the crucial Centre Core at the National Sports Centre.

Sports minister Dale Butler explained the capital grant will go towards ?the mobilisation required?, for example purchasing equipment, portable housing and other major necessities for the massive project.

He also disclosed that for the actually building of the multi-purpose complex, Government will be seeking private-sector contributions whether in the form of ?bonds, loans, outright gifts, partnerships?.

To that end, Government will be setting up a committee to work with them and the private enterprise ?to find the funding for the Centre Core.?

?Oh yes, most definitely. It?s going to be a public-private partnership,? confirmed Butler.

?We?re awaiting the appointment of that committee which will explore all of our options. That committee will come up with a variety of suggestions and put together a financial package.

?Hopefully we will have that financial package in time for when we have all the equipment and other necessities in the Island and are ready to start. It would be unfortunate to mobilise and get all the equipment here and have no money to get started.?

The minister said Government is reluctant to give a start date for the Centre Core because the public has been disappointed over the past 30 years when plans for the facility were first discussed.

He noted that both political parties have had to reprioritise given various crises during their respective terms in Government.

?We had to put a lot of money in schools and housing. Maybe if we had not done that we might have finished the stadium by now,? he added.

?Both Governments were faced with similar dilemmas. You?re constantly looking at your priorities. Now we can really concentrate on this other phase.?