WHY THE RELUCTANCE TO GIVE UTECH TRELAWNY STADIUM?

In July 2011, the Jamaica Observer reported that the University of Technology was planning to invest J$250 million in developing the university’s western campus on a property adjacent to the stadium in Greenfield, Trelawny. Utech also had plans to acquire the stadium that was built to host matches at the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup held here in the Caribbean.

The previous government dragged their feet mulling whether or not to allow Utech to take control of the stadium, inaction that the JLP now admits was wrong. That administration lost power in December 2011 and the current administration assumed responsibility of making a decision.

Just this week, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller killed that Utech plan, announcing that she would not allow the university to pursue its plans in that regard. Minister Natalie Neita Headley, who has responsibility for sport, claims that the stadium is to be developed for the community for the use of the people.

But what do Minister Neita-Headley’s words ‘developed for the community for the use of the people’ really mean? I pray it doesn’t mean that the Trelawny stadium is doomed to a fate similar to the Sligoville stadium. That one was also being developed for the use of the people. These days that stadium is a run-down rust-covered shadow of its former self. The money for that facility was granted by the Chinese and they have expressed their own disappointment at the subsequent fate of that rusty ‘white elephant’ in Sligoville, St. Catherine.

With the goat population already beginning to see the seaside stadium as home, I certainly hope that a similar fate doesn’t befall the Trelawny facility.

Here’s the question though; since the Government says their intention is to develop the facility for the people, wouldn’t giving Utech access be the same thing? After all, Utech was planning to develop the property, establish a sports-related curriculum and provide a place for students from western Jamaica to have access to tertiary education and not have to travel and live on the eastern side of the island at great expense. They could even call it the Usain Bolt/Utech Campus since it is so close to William Knibb, the high school Bolt attended while he was still developing his incredible speed and personality.

The other factor is that developing the facility will cost money, money which the Government does not have. Where does Government plan to get the money to undertake this so-called ‘development’? With that in mind, wouldn’t it be more cost effective to have Utech raise the necessary funding to do what they planned to do with the stadium? Besides, turning the stadium over to Utech would absolve Government of the more than one million dollars it costs to maintain it each month.

If Utech takes control of the stadium, it will be transformed into a money making entity since tuition fees and other ancillary fees would help cover whatever costs would be associated with maintaining it. It would also still be accessible to the community for football and cricket matches at the school and community level. The Jazz Festival could still be held there since education is also a cultural experience. It would also provide a perfect platform for Utech to give their hospitality students valuable work experience helping to prepare for the festival each year.

It would be a win/win situation.

But let’s say the Government wants to be an integral part of whatever happens with the Trelawny Stadium; I mean they did squander US$25 million on it, there would be nothing to prevent them from doing that. Utech is a government institution and perhaps, if they work in conjunction with each other, they could have monthly events there from which the Government could get their fair share of whatever revenue is generated.

That’s certainly better than spending 12-million a year on something that was clearly built with no future plans in mind. Why do I say this? The stadium is six years old and since the cricket world cup the stadium has only been used a handful of occasions. That suggests to me that nobody had given thought to what it was to be used for once the world cup ended in 2007. Perhaps they thought the world was going to end.

Come to think of it, maybe the world has ended because that’s the only way I can make sense over the nonsense that keeps happening where this stadium is concerned.

Older Entries

Newer Entries

The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
The Gleaner reserves the right not to publish comments that may be deemed libelous, derogatory or indecent.
To respond to The Gleaner please use the feedback form.

10 Responses to “WHY THE RELUCTANCE TO GIVE UTECH TRELAWNY STADIUM?”

knee says:

June 12, 2013 at 5:58 am

Apparently UTECH’s development is not for the people. I have never heard such rubbish. I sometimes wonder what the objectives of the government are if there are actually any. Had they thought this through they would have seen how this could also benefit their cash-strapped —–. The PM and the sports minister should be asked to expand on their statements (if they can) Aye sah!!! Do they even discuss these things as a group cause I’m thinking the finance minister would be glad to lease and more-so to UTECH. There would be so much ground covered at no cost to them.
jacko says:

June 12, 2013 at 7:34 am

Education is the way to go. Always thought that is one of the key pillars to get our country moving in the right direction, seems our Gov. don’t think so, reason educated people are less likely to be lead like sheep
Don Hall says:

June 12, 2013 at 3:05 pm

“Mi luv U-Tech but no…” I love our Prime Minister’s usual patriotic and community oriented fervor in speech. However, her posiition regarding U-Tech and the Trelawny stadium seems to be simply wrong-headed. U-Tech has a fantatstic reputatioon for being community-friendly for as long as I can remember. If there are good reasons why the stadium should not be leased to U-Tech they should be made known.
This just sounds like strong, wrong-headed hogwash. I suggest that representatives from the central government with responsibility for education, sports, and finance meet with representatives from U-Tech, local government, and community stakeholders, to re-examine the U-Tech proposal. The plan should be examined in terms of what is best for the region and the nation. If necessary, it should be tweaked to conform to those considerations. To dismiss U_Tech’s proposal out of hand does not seem to make sense.
I speak as a Jamaican who lives outside the country and has Jamaica’s best interest at heart. I do not believe that U-Tech’s stewardship of the stadium would preclude me the opportunity to enjoy it when I am in Jamaica.
Dee says:

June 12, 2013 at 10:21 pm

It baffles me that the simplest of decisions Portia cannot get right. How did she become PM twice baffles me too.
Juliet says:

June 13, 2013 at 7:11 am

This is the problem that I have with successive government, they play politics. They are only interested in votes for themselves and not the development of the nation. What are the “people” going to do with the complex. An additional campus would provide access for students who live in the surrounding area. I am so disgusted with our way of thinking in this country. I cannot be hopeful about our progress when our Prime Minister cannot see the bigger picture.
Ernie says:

June 13, 2013 at 8:24 am

I want to hear the alternative plan from the government to take what has been a white elephant and taxpayer burden to a revenue generating entity. Both parties dropped the ball on UTECH. One admits it was a mistake, the current administration continues its ignorance. UTECH could make that stadium would a major economic driver, cultural, tourism activity and higher education for Western Jamaica. A no brainer, but then we are not dealing with thinking people. They think politics when our country is mired in an economic mess.
bobo says:

June 13, 2013 at 10:51 am

Well, why can’t it be both? Give/Lease it to UTECH with the conditions that the locals will have use of the facility. Common sense would make the locals know that if UTECH gets the facility, it will mean more opportunities for them with regards to jobs, facilities, transport, roads and such… Win win if you ask me…. Take it off the public purse.. give it to UTECH… No brainer really…
Frank Asphall says:

June 15, 2013 at 6:03 am

Now we could clearly see that no taught was put into how the stadium will generate revenue.most other countries stadiums are placed into densely populated area to generate revenue to maintain the facility.This could be one of the many reason why the Jamaican Dollar continue to loose its value,putting money into areas that bring no return.These are areas where it can be identify as of lack of corporate qualities in the system.Jamaica’s problem will continue to be the quality of the people that are carrying out objectives.
audley mclean says:

June 15, 2013 at 9:48 pm

Why does our politicians always ends up on the wrong side of popular opinion,.. is it a form a power play which gives them estasy since they are they ones who who make the decisions, and saying no is usually a stronger position than what they might deemed as giving in as a sort of weak disposition, for the life of me I cannot understand their logics letting this go would be a major accomplishment since it is really dormant and going into ruins, they the Government has no money for purposes other than economical survival, so this will be the regular modus operandi of Government …to administer red tape simply because they can
Ian Cameron says:

July 30, 2013 at 1:57 am

Didn’t some white dude make the suggestion of Utech using the stadium, published in a full page advertisement? No wonder this set of idiots can’t accept the common-sense solution. They can’t take advice from white Jamaicans but bow to the IMF.