A view of Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica (Photo: CPL T20)
Full speed ahead
Government’s $75-m lighting upgrade at Sabina Park set to proceed despite ownership questions
DESPITE the Government’s concern surrounding the ownership of Sabina Park, Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) President Dr Donovan Bennett says an agreement has been reached with Kingston Cricket Club (KCC) for JCA to own and operate the soon-to-be-installed lights at the stadium until 2040.
On Wednesday, Sports Minister Olivia “Babsy Grange” pledged $75 million, through Sports Development Foundation (SDF), to upgrade the lights at the country’s premier cricket venue in Kingston, ahead of the West Indies’ home tour against Australia this summer.
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Sabina Park, however, is currently jointly owned by JCA and KCC, with both parties having control over various facilities at the ground. KCC owns the field, which means the lights would be under their control.
Grange told the Jamaica Observer that the Government wants assurances that the bodies can work out a suitable arrangement before the funds are handed over.
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“The fact we’re going to be investing in infrastructure, we have to make sure we don’t have a situation where KCC would say, ‘You can’t come on our grounds’ and we’ve already put the lights there. So, in order to ensure we have a proper arrangement we’re just working through those technicalities, then it’s a go,” Grange added.
However, Dr Bennett says the matter will be sorted out in short order after a meeting with KCC.
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“Everything is basically sorted out. We have a written commitment from them and, as we speak, a formal contract is being drawn up which will give us a 15-year right to own and operate the lights, then there will be an option to renew for another 15 years. So, it’s actually a 30-year arrangement that we’ll have with KCC,” he told the Observer.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic Sabina Park has been unable to host night matches as the lights failed to meet international standards, which meant all of West Indies’ encounters across all formats have been held at the stadium during the days.
However, Dr Bennett is confident that JCA will have ample time to install the lights before the start of the third test on July 12.
“If we get the money next week or so then we would be ordering the lights by the end of February and it would take between six weeks to two months for them to be delivered, which takes us to the end of April. We would have all of May to install, and my projection is we should finish installing in two weeks so we’d be done by the middle of May — so, we’re on target,” he said.
Dr Bennett also confirmed that a new scoreboard, donated by the Indian Government, should also make its debut during the series.
Grange says the upgrading of the lights is a testament to the Government’s commitment to cricket.
“The fact that I found a way to get the track done, I couldn’t in all honesty not find a way or work whatever miracle I could work to get the lights in, because both disciplines are important. Track and field is important, we’re the centre of the world with our athletics, but cricket is also important,” she said.
“The Government has, from time to time, been criticised for not showing enough interest in cricket, which is not true. I felt that [given] my commitment to sports and all the disciplines that I should find a way. I went to the minister of finance and, through the SDF, we worked through the mechanics to see how we could do it,” added Grange.
Three games are set for Sabina Park this summer as the West Indies host Australia in a scheduled day/ night Test on July 12 before two T20 Internationals on July 20 and July 22.
