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MoBay Sports Complex falling in disrepair... covered with high grass, bushes and garbage
WESTERN BUREAU:
The new J$1.4 billion Montego Bay Sports Complex, which was officially opened in June 2010, is rapidly falling into a state of disrepair as a result of lack of maintenance, which has given it an abandon look.
From one corner to the next, include the playing surface, the inner and outer perimeter fencing, the flowers planted for beautification, the running track and the car park, it is all a combination of high grass, bushes, over-grown weeds and garbage.
Former Montego Bay mayor, Councillor Charles Sinclair, who chaired the management committee for the facility up until the local government elections in March, was crestfallen on seeing the state of the facility.
maintenance crew
"When I was in charge, we had a maintenance crew operating here but those persons were dismissed when the life of my committee came to an end and no replacement have been made," said Sinclair. "Frankly speaking, I am crestfallen, heart-broken and personally, I feel like I have been punched in the stomach."
It was learnt that a new 20-member committee headed by businessman/political activist Gordon Baldie was recently announced but they have reportedly not started working.
"I have seen the list but it is most disappointing because none of the sporting bodies in the parish are represented on it," a parish council source told Star Sports. "The members of the committee will be in charge of the stadium, Jarrett Park and the Old Hospital Park.
The unsanitary state of the parking lot, which has uncollected garbage dating back several months, has attracted the attention of the St James Health Authority, which is preparing to take action against the St James Parish Council, which is responsible for the facility.
"We have been alerted to the situation and based on what we have seen, it is really bad," said health inspector Lennox Wallace. "It cannot stay this way so we are going to write the St James Parish Council about it."
When the St James Parish Council was contacted for a comment on the situation, Star Sports was told that Mayor Glendon Harris and Secretary/Manager Winston Palmer, the two persons with the authority to address the issue, were both out of office for the day.
The 8,000 seat facility, which was constructed by the Urban Development Corporation with the aid of the Venezuelan government through the San Jose Accord, has the only running track that is up to international standard in western Jamaica.
WESTERN BUREAU:
The new J$1.4 billion Montego Bay Sports Complex, which was officially opened in June 2010, is rapidly falling into a state of disrepair as a result of lack of maintenance, which has given it an abandon look.
From one corner to the next, include the playing surface, the inner and outer perimeter fencing, the flowers planted for beautification, the running track and the car park, it is all a combination of high grass, bushes, over-grown weeds and garbage.
Former Montego Bay mayor, Councillor Charles Sinclair, who chaired the management committee for the facility up until the local government elections in March, was crestfallen on seeing the state of the facility.
maintenance crew
"When I was in charge, we had a maintenance crew operating here but those persons were dismissed when the life of my committee came to an end and no replacement have been made," said Sinclair. "Frankly speaking, I am crestfallen, heart-broken and personally, I feel like I have been punched in the stomach."
It was learnt that a new 20-member committee headed by businessman/political activist Gordon Baldie was recently announced but they have reportedly not started working.
"I have seen the list but it is most disappointing because none of the sporting bodies in the parish are represented on it," a parish council source told Star Sports. "The members of the committee will be in charge of the stadium, Jarrett Park and the Old Hospital Park.
The unsanitary state of the parking lot, which has uncollected garbage dating back several months, has attracted the attention of the St James Health Authority, which is preparing to take action against the St James Parish Council, which is responsible for the facility.
"We have been alerted to the situation and based on what we have seen, it is really bad," said health inspector Lennox Wallace. "It cannot stay this way so we are going to write the St James Parish Council about it."
When the St James Parish Council was contacted for a comment on the situation, Star Sports was told that Mayor Glendon Harris and Secretary/Manager Winston Palmer, the two persons with the authority to address the issue, were both out of office for the day.
The 8,000 seat facility, which was constructed by the Urban Development Corporation with the aid of the Venezuelan government through the San Jose Accord, has the only running track that is up to international standard in western Jamaica.
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