KINGSTON, Jamaica— The upgrade of the National Stadium’s lighting infrastructure to meet world-class standard is estimated to cost more than US$4 million.

Recently, a total of JA$75 million was released by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service for urgent remedial work at the stadium to address the lighting system.

General Manager for Independence Park Limited (IPL), Major Desmon Brown, said that rehabilitation work is ongoing at the stadium and will be completed in time for the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Nations League match between Jamaica and Cuba, scheduled to take place on Friday, September 6.

Major Brown said that additional LED lamps have to be frequently installed at the facility to ensure that it maintains the FIFA (International Federation of Football Association) requirements.

“We have installed some lamps and we are about to install some more, because the old lamps continue to blow; so, if a couple bulbs blow, we will fall below,” he said.

He said that the funds released by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service are “to supplement the existing lamps and to change out some of the bulbs, including wires and transformers”.

Major Brown noted that the stadium’s current lights, installed in the 1990s, are over 25 years old and no longer in production.

“What has been happening is that they are failing, and we cannot replace them,” he said, adding that the entire lighting system will be repaired once the budget is approved and the redevelopment project begins.

He also pointed out that when the new lamps are purchased, the existing ones will be installed at Stadium East and other areas inside the Stadium, including the swimming pool.

In her contribution to the 2024/25 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives in June, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport,  Olivia Grange, said that the redevelopment project will be facilitated under a signed Framework for Cooperation between the Governments of Jamaica and the United Kingdom.

The IPL, which manages sport facilities at the stadium complex, has responsibility for the National Arena, National Indoor Sports Centre, National Aquatic Centre and Stadium East.

—JIS