A LOCKdown of several major sporting facilities, including the National Stadium, as well as a number of places of entertainment in the Corporate Area is looming.

The National Stadium is among a number of facilities that have been given a 14-day ultimatum by the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) to meet safety, licensing and insurance requirements.

Sporting facilities, such as the Edward Seaga Complex, the Harbour View Stadium, the Tony Spaulding sports complex, among others, are said to be operating without licences, insurance or fire certificates.

Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie warned yesterday that at the end of two weeks, the KSAC would be handing over a list of non-compliant facilities to the police for action.

Safety breaches

The mayor told reporters during a press briefing at the KSAC's downtown Kingston offices that he had discussions with the minister of national security and the commis-sioner of police on the matter.

On September 6, Jamaica goes up against Mexico in the World Cup qualifiers at the National Stadium. But McKenzie said the fire department has identified at least 22 safety breaches at the Stadium operated by Independence Park Limited (IPL). In this regard, he said no local or international matches would be played there until the authorities were satisfied that the sports venue was safe.

"This is a matter in which we are not prepared to make any compromise," he said. "The law gives us the right to close them with immediate effect, but we are not going that route, we are giving 14 days."

Efforts to reach IPL Managing Director Major Desmond Brown for comments were unsuccessful.

President of the Tivoli Gardens Sports Club, Edward Seaga, told The Gleaner yesterday that he was not aware that a licence was needed to operate a sports complex.

"Whatever is required, we will pursue it, but this is the first time I am hearing about this," he said.