By Adrian Frater, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
JARRETT PARK, which successfully hosted two international cricket matches last year, generating the best financial returns of all games staged locally, has not been selected to host any Busta Cup games this year. However, while Brian Breeze, the Chief Executive of the Jamaica Cricket Board (JCB), has said the decision is due to the 'need to spread the game' and to meet the JCB's obligation to Box Holders at Sabina Park, cricket interest in Montego Bay are not buying that argument.
"That is stupid, how can you be running away from the venue where you made the most money last year", said a well-placed source in St. James cricket. "I think is a case of them not wanting to pay the monies they owe the Jarrett Park Management Committee (JPMC) from last year."
Last September, Edgerton Forrester, the treasurer of the JPMC went public with the news that the JCB, owed his committee over $200,00 in rental of the facility, which was used for the Jamaica Vs South Africa game and the Jamaica Vs West Indies 'B' Busta Cup games.
Forrester stated that park's committee, which loss the income it would have made from football to facilitate the cricket matches, was not likely to allow the JCB to use the park again unless the outstanding bills were paid. He added that a new arrangement was being considered for future of the facility by the JCB.
"While we would like to continue hosting international cricket, we can't do so unless there is a willingness on the part of the JCB to pay to use the park," Forrester told The Gleaner. "We are thinking of asking for a 50 per cent down payment for the use of the facility."
However, Grantley Miller, the president of the St. James Cricket Association and a top executive of the JCB, thinks the non-paying of the monies owed is as a result of a misunderstanding. However, he hinted that he would not allow that situation to undermine the future staging of international cricket at Jarrett Park.
"With the 2007 World Cup coming to the West Indies, we are looking at projecting Montego Bay as avenue," said Miller, a former top St. James wicketkeeper/batsman. "We have the necessary infrastructure plus top class hotels, good beaches and a warm and friendly atmosphere to facilitate touring crickets fans."
In the lone Busta Cup game played at Jarrett Park last year, $71,000 was collected on the first day, $94,000 on the second day and over $100,000 on the third day. On the contrary, the best day at Sabina Park only netted a mere $21,000.
