Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
SKILLED LABOURERS and artisans from western Jamaica will benefit directly when construction starts on the US$25 million Greenfield Stadium which will host the opening ceremony of the 2007 International Cricket Council's (ICC) World Cup.
"Only skilled persons who are adept at what they do need apply for work on the site when employment opens," warned Dr. Wayne Reid, chairman of Jamaica Cricket 2007 Limited.
Dr. Reid was speaking during a meeting with stakeholders held at the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall on Monday afternoon.
COMMUNITY LEADERS
A number of community leaders from Montego Bay and Trelawny, as well as the state minister in the Ministry of Tourism, Dr. Wykeham McNeill and Director of Tourism Paul Pennicook attended the meeting, which saw a digital presentation of what the complex will look like upon completion by June 2006.
Françoise Nortje of Bouygues/MLH Architects and Planners, the company that will undertake the construction, conducted the video presentation.
Dr. Reid said construction was slated to start in early January 2005 and must be completed by June 2006, so several tests could be done, especially to the pitch that will host several warm-up games involving the West Indies and India.
He said that during the first three months, it might seem that not much work is being done. However, he says that work will speed up by late April 2005 when actual construction will start.
SHORTAGE OF WORKERS
"This is not a place where anyone will come to learn a trade. Everyone on the site must be skilled at whatever they do. We are not just looking for labourers but skilled artisans," Dr. Reid said, while venturing to predict that the site might be the first one in Jamaica where they would have to import labourers, as there could be a shortage of workers due to the construction of several hotels during that time.
The stadium will be located just outside of Falmouth, Trelawny and will be able to accommodate 25,000 patrons for the Cricket World Cup 2007 opening ceremony and the warm-up games.
