TuftonIs the newly-constructed Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium up for sale? That suggestion was implicit in a question tabled yesterday in the Senate by Senator Christopher Tufton of the opposition Jamaica Labour Party.
Senator Tufton, in one of a series of questions relating to the stadium, queried whether offers had been made "to purchase, lease or rent" the facility.
He also asked for the identity of the bidders, if there had been any offer, and how soon a decision could be reached on the future of the venue.
Not aware of any intention
Senator Tufton admitted later to The Gleaner that he was not aware of any intention to sell the stadium. He said, however, that the Opposition would not be averse to a viable plan to sell the facility.
"If a private investor were to purchase it to enhance value via development of local talent or for tourism related purposes we would not be opposed to it," he said.
The Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, located in Florence Hall, was completed in March, in time for staging the opening ceremony for the ICC Cricket World Cup. Since then, there has not been any significant activity at the stadium, built at a cost of US$30 million (J$2 billion).
Management team
The Government has repeatedly stated that a management team will be appointed to operate the stadium on a profit basis. In the meantime, it is costing the state an estimated J$2 million per month to maintain the facility.
Senator Tufton is now asking whether that management team has been appointed, or whether, in the meantime, it is being maintained by the National Housing Trust.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who has retained the sport portfolio, has spoken of a desire to expand the complex to facilitate athletics and football, as well as an arena for indoor sport along with living quarters for teams using it for training or competition.
She also spoke about prospects for attracting foreign teams to use the venue for spring training, during her recent contribution to the 2007/2008 Budget Debate.
