Howard Hamilton, Contributor
RACING INTERESTS started the year 2004 with hope and enthusiasm. It seemed then that at last the government was beginning to understand the value and potential of the racing industry. Alas, the year has ended with us no nearer to the 'Promised Land'.
We start 2005 with a prayer. Let us pray that all is not lost. We are told that these things take time. It is just that the older we get the less time we see in front of us and the quicker we would like to see things happen. Age causes us to become frustrated very easily. We are pregnant with impatience.
It seems that the proposals received for the divestment of Caymanas Park did not satisfy the evaluation process. We would have thought that the opportunity would have been taken to revisit the entire proposal that was prepared by the National Investment Bank (NIBJ).
The request should now be broadened to include the relocation of the racing plant and alternate development for Caymanas Park. The original proposal prepared by NIBJ is flawed. It pays no attention to some major intangible environmental and social problems which have developed over time with the current site:
There are people who continue to believe that the racing plant is theirs and will forever continue to use political pressure to spread discontent.This can only be broken by government's total divestment - no leasing arrangement will solve that cultural problem. A new plant has to be built with private sector ownership and shares available to all interested parties. There can then be no question as who owns what.
PRESSURE
The pressure over the years for housing has resulted in the encroachment of people which brings with it major security problems. The security wall is regularly breached and dogs running on to the track are a constant problem. The people living in close proximity to the track take 'pleasure' in stoning the horses and there is a constant need to have the stones removed since these are a continuing source of lameness to the horses.We need to relocate to an area with no possibility of housing encroachment.
The cost of water and electricity is prohibitive mainly because of the illicit connections that have become the norm over the years. No tightening of management can control this traditional behaviour of the people who live next to the track. The only solution is to move the track and ensure that there is no one who will ever live in close proximity to the racing environ.The demolition cost along with the construction costs of developing a new state of the art entertainment complex just does not make sense. None of us can see this taking place without serious disruption of racing with the resultant loss of revenue. The NIBJ, in their request for proposals, has not looked at the alternative value of the current site. What are the medium and long-term demands for housing and Greenfield areas to support the expanding population in the immediate area of Caymanas Park? Is there a more attractive development plan for the area which will satisfy these medium and long-term requirements? I suspect that none of these considerations have formed part of the deliberations in preparing the request for proposals as put out by the NIBJ.
The modifications to the existing building to provide adequate customer comfort - dining facilities, comfortable seating, corporate boxes, merchandising areas, entertainment facilities - will require major demolition and construction. These costs, I have always contended, would be better directed at the construction of a new facility.
The establishment of a turf track has been mooted for years. How can we achieve all these without major disruption of racing with the resultant loss in revenue to stakeholders?
My discussions with the two organisations that submitted bids revealed that they are both strongly of the view that a new facility is the ideal solution if the racing industry is to move forward.
My suggestion is that we do not waste any more time in re-submission of proposals that are responding to a request that is flawed. We are all willing to work together in building a new racing plant. Let us get on with that task and have the National Housing Trust and/or the Urban Development Corporation prepare a comprehensive plan to develop the current site which will satisfy the increasing demand for housing and Greenfield areas in the expanding St. Catherine area.
Let us start the process now - time is not on our side.
Howard L. Hamilton, C.D., J.P., is a former chairman of Caymanas Track Limited and is the current president of the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association. Email howham@cwjamaica.com.
