Tight security for Boyz game

By Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter

Captain Horace Burrell, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), displays a special shirt for tomorrow's crucial World Cup qualifier between the Reggae Boyz and the US at the National Stadium. - Rudolph Brown

SCENES OF disorder which were seen at the National Stadium when Jamaica played Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup qualifier will be no more, according to the Jamaica Football Federation.

In the one World Cup match since then, the JFF got high praise for its efforts to improve security and they will go a step further tomorrow in the game against the United States.

"Security has always been a concern of the fans. At the Trinidad and Tobago game (on February 28) we all agree that there was a breakdown," Captain Horace Burrell, president of the JFF, said yesterday.

Burrell was speaking at a press conference held at the JFF headquarters to outline plans for the game. Burrell said the match against Honduras was the best ever in terms of security at the National Stadium.

Security he said would be stepped up because "people have paid handsomely for their tickets" and should be able to get into the game hassle-free and to sit comfortably.

As such, Burrell said, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, The Jamaica Defence Force and private security companies would combine to provide security while KPMG Peat Marwick would carry out the auditing.

Heading the security operation on the ground will be assistant Commissioner of Police Arthur Martin. According to ACP Martin, the security arrangements will be similar to the last game but with improvements. Among the improvements, Martin said, would be the separation of duties.

"The JDF will be responsible for the outer perimeter of the stadium," Martin said. The soldiers would deal with acts such as the scaling of fences and walls and the crowding of the gates.

"A sterile area will be established around the gates and around the entire stadium. Checkpoints will also put in place where if one cannot produce a ticket he or she will not be able to advance beyond those points," he said.

"All patrons will be subjected to searches. Searches will be conducted by female officer on females and male officers on male patrons."

Hand-held scanners will also be used, said ACP Martin.

The inner area of the stadium will be handled by uniformed and plain-clothed police.

To allow the smooth flow of traffic to and from the stadium, Martin said new traffic arrangements will be put in place.

"Some roads will become one ways. Coming from Tom Redcam, Arthur Wint Drive to Statue Road will be one way from South to North East, Roosevelt Avenue North to South, Stanton Terrace to Arthur Wint Drive. A similar ararangement will be in place for Mountain View Avenue to Arthur Wint Drive and Mountain View Avenue to Deanery Road. The oposite will take place after the game."

This system will be put in place from 7:00 a.m. until after the game.

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