PAINFUL DELAYS

ALMOST A year after the Montego Bay Multi-Sports Development Limited (MBMSDL) was selected to lease the Montego Bay Sports Complex, it has still not been approved by the Desmond McKenzie-led Ministry of Local Government.

Head of the MBMSDL, Yoni Esptein, the lone bidder for the stadium, is concerned that delays in the approval are beginning to impact plans in the organisation’s proposal for the venue’s development.

“We are 11 months into the process and, for us, time is of essence with some of the things we want to achieve with the lease. Every day that passes makes it more difficult to achieve as well some of the stuff on a day-to-day basis to have Catherine Hall operating more as a multipurpose stadium,” said Epstein.

“Sports is on a high right now. The more time passes, gives other people opportunities to come in and try to capitalise on the market,” he added.

Last year, the proposal after the bidding process opened in September and officially closed on November 18.

In June, Epstein anticipated that the lease and contract would be completed by the beginning of the 2025 football season.

One of the programmes that could be affected, according to Esptein, is the lighting project.

“Some timelines are shorter than others. In particular, with Montego Bay United (MBU) doing as well as they are, we want to reach the Caribbean Cup and play home matches in Montego Bay,” said Epstein, who is also the chairman of MBU.

“We will need to get the lighting upgraded and do some work on the field. While the field is something we can continue to do, the investment in the lighting, we wouldn’t start until we get the lease and, the more time that passes [the more logistically challenging it becomes] because that is something you have to order and customise for the particular venue,” added Epstein.

Speaking to Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon at the inaugural Wingo Airlines service from Colombia to Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on Thursday, he said he anticipates his office will get an answer for the project valued at $700 million from the ministry before the end of the fiscal year.

“The most I can do at this time is to speak with the minister so that they can treat the application with some urgency. However, it still comes down to the processes that are associated with it, and we also have to be respectful of that and honour it.,” said Vernon.

According to Vernon, his office has completed all the necessary requirements.

“I have done all that can be done, including ensuring that MBU, which is our home team, now has a home, because they did not. We work closely with MBU to ensure that some thing is happening at the stadium and that today we can actually go and embrace the development of the youth and community,” added Vernon.

$700-MILLION INVESTMENT PLAN

As part of its $700 million investment plan over three years, MBMSDL intends to develop infrastructure for football, track and field, swimming, and racquet sports. Operational funding is projected at over $51 million annually.

Rent is expected to be paid in the form of one per cent of the annual revenue generated from ticket sales and usage fees.

When The Gleaner made efforts to contact McKenzie for a comment, phone calls and WhatsApp messages went unanswered.

In June, McKenzie, who has responsibility for all facilities that fall under municipal corporations, said he had not yet received the lease agreement for the stadium, as the required internal procedures had not yet been concluded.

He pointed out that it would be sent to the permanent secretary and there is a committee within the ministry, the Land Divestment Committee, made up of representatives from several government agencies, who were to have assessed what has been submitted and they, after their consideration, will make a recommendation to him.

Additionally, the minister stated that the process is currently taking place and, when that time comes, his ministry will act based on whatever recommendations come from the committee.

The delays also mean the facilities upgrades will also miss the track and field season in January of 2026.

“The track is again a six-month lead time and you want to try and catch it so you are ready for sure for the next season. We will miss this year and we want to be in a position that we can at least meet 2027 at this stage,” said Epstein.

The track has deteriorated tremendously over the past few years, and was taken out of service over fears that continued use could result in athletes suffering serious injuries.

The last time the Milo Western Relays was held at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, for instance, was in February 2018.

Since then, all major track events have had to be shifted to venues as far away as St Catherine.

The Montego Bay Sports Complex, which was developed at a cost of US$14.9 million, was opened in June 2010.