Mayor confirms JFF applications before KSAC
Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie confirmed yesterday that the KSAC has received all fees associated with an application made by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) for the construction of a technical centre for football at lands located at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
The mayor said during the weekly Monday Exchange meeting of reporters and editors at the Observer’s Beechwood Avenue headquarters yesterday that the JFF has paid the building approval application fees, two months after they initially wanted to start construction on their Goal Project for the proposed technical centre.
Said McKenzie: “They have officially made the application… they have subsequently come in and paid the fees and the application is being dealt with, whether positive or negative.”
Asked if the cash-strapped JFF requested a waiver of the fees, McKenzie responded: “Yes.”
On January 6, the JFF announced that it had the go-ahead from FIFA for contractors TankWeld Limited to start construction on phase one of the project, but the delay with the processing of the building application has stalled the start-up of the work.
The initial phase of the technical centre is expected to include two full-sized training fields with proper underground irrigation systems, perimeter fencing, the construction of rest rooms and changing facilities, as well as facilities for technical staff.
But the mayor warned that no work can be done without the proper procedure.
As a result, contractors TankWeld has been on hold as the clock ticks on the proposed timeline for the September for completion, which coincides with the visit of FIFA president Sepp Blatter to the region for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.
“What we have tried to do to is assist them… we understand that there is a time factor in terms of this money, we can look at a possible outline approval if it reaches that stage and we can be accommodating,” said McKenzie.
“There is no more building meeting for this month, but if needs be and my officers are satisfied then…,” the no-nonsense councillor said.
Chairman of the JFF Technical Committee, Howard McIntosh, said last evening that the federation had submitted all that is required of the KSAC.
“Everything has been paid and everything has been properly filed… we are just waiting on the approval,” said McIntosh.
“They have indicated that they will try and accommodate us and I hope that they will make all the necessary things (available) that will allow us to proceed,” he added.