... Controversial from the beginning
EVEN BEFORE ground was broken for the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium on November 11, 2005, controversy was already swirling about the wisdom of constructing the US$30 million sporting facility in a town like Falmouth, which is not a major population centre.
In raising objection to the plan, the critics, especially sporting stakeholders in Kingston, argued that the money would have been better spent upgrading Sabina Park, which was in need of repairs at the time. Additionally, they expressed concern that the stadium would ultimately become a white elephant.
However, at the groundbreaking ceremony, Jamaica’s then prime minister, P.J. Patterson, stated: “This event is more than just a groundbreaking event for a sports stadium. It heralds a new era for the citizens of the region (western Jamaica) to enjoy the world-class sport facility they deserve.”
The controversy, albeit more of a cultural nature, continued into the construction phase as on several occasions, outside intervention had to be sought to quell feuding between the Chinese workers, who were brought in by COMPLANT, the Chinese construction firm and their Jamaican counterparts.
After hosting a fantastic opening ceremony for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, an event that was beamed via television to 200 countries with a combined viewing audience of more than two billion households, the stadium rolled right back into more controversy as there were seemingly no concrete plans for the future use of the stadium.
There was slight respite between 2010 and 2011 when the stadium hosted a number of international cricket and football matches, raising hopes that the white elephant predictions would not become a reality.
However, since then, except for the annual Jehovah’s Witness Convention and the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, the stadium has been all but devoid of any activities.
Additionally, with the Government rejecting a proposal by the University of Technology to take over and run the facility, stakeholders in Trelawny, who were hoping that such a move would help transform Falmouth into a university town, are again worried about the future of the stadium.
With the Government seemingly tight-lipped about its future plans for the stadium, the critics are once again having a field day, reminding all and sundry of their white-elephant predictions.