Stakeholders worry over leasing Montego Bay Sports Complex

THERE ARE lingering concerns from sporting interests surrounding the idea of whether opening the leasing of the Montego Bay Sports Complex to bids will be beneficial to the parish of St James.

Ray Harvey, chairman of the Western Relays organising committee, said he is anxious to know if the lease, for instance, has plans for track and field.

“The government is obviously not going to do the work. So it is my hope that the lessee has an interest in track and field and an interest in seeing the track repaired. It sounds like a football organisation that wants the facility,” Harvey said.

“At this point in time, serious work has to be done. I don’t have much details on it now but all I heard is they are offering it for lease,” he added.

Earlier this month, an announcement was made by mayor of Montego Bay, Richard Vernon, that the St James Municipal Corporation (STJMC) is to lease the property. Bidding was officially opened on Wednesday.

The mayor indicated that requests for proposals will remain open for two weeks. A main condition for the applicants is that of being a registered sports development entity. They must also present a plan for a multidisciplinary buildout for the stadium.

He outlined that sports, including track and field, swimming, tennis, football and futsal, were the main staple for the citizens from the parish.

On Wednesday, Montego Bay United FC (MBU) chairman, Yoni Epstein, said the club was ready to make a bid once the municipal corporation puts out the bid.

Epstein, at the time, said the Montego Bay Sports Complex was more than just football, it was a multipurpose stadium that a lot more could be done with.

MBU’s intentions, Epstein explained, were to respond with a bid that speaks to multi-discipline sports that will have multiple opportunities for individuals at the stadium.

Gregory Daley, president of St James Football Association, said he has mixed feelings about the stadium being leased.

“If it is something that is going to bring about having a better structure where the stadium is better maintained and managed. Also, the lease, as a part of their contract, making it available for football in the parish, that would be a win-win situation,” Daley told The Gleaner.

In October 2023, in Epstein’s first speech as chairman, he declared having designs on ownership of the facility. He said, as the premier team in St James, with the connections and opportunities available to them, they should be the rightful custodians of the complex.

“If it is not available and it is going to be privatised, we will have less usage of the stadium and, again, we will be deprived of another field which deals with the cry of the parish. One of the main issues in the parish, in terms of resources, is the land aspect where we have facilities to play.

“We know it is expensive to use, that is not a hidden thing. However, if it is for the benefit of the parish and not for an entity itself, it is a good move,” said Daley.

Garth Smythe, track and field coach for Muschett High School, said conditions must be applied to whoever the stadium is leased to.

“If it is leased and it is only going to be for football purposes, then we still going to get short-changed. Conditions should include fixing the track and allowing training sessions for schools and teams in western Jamaica. Therefore, if that lessee has the interest of fixing the stadium and the track so the athletes can benefit, then I agree with it being leased,” Smythe said.