Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
Demolition has started on sections of Sabina Park in preparation for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
CHRIS SMITH, the project manager of Jamaica Cricket 2007, the company mandated by the Jamaican Government to renovate Sabina Park and build a stadium at Greenfield in Trelawny in time for the International Cricket Council World Cup, said his company is on target with their work and should deliver the facilities on time.
Dr. Wayne Reid, Jamaica Cricket 2007 chairman, also moved to ensure that his company meet its delivery schedule by announcing the appointment of Robert Bryan as its chief executive officer. He is to oversee the successful execution of both projects.
Mr. Bryan, who gave up his job as executive director at the Social Development Commission (SDC) in order to fill his new appointment, takes up the job on July 1.
NO MAJOR PROBLEMS
"We are on schedule with both projects now and we expect to finish on time," Mr. Smith said. He told The Gleaner last week that there have been no major problems at Sabina Park thus far, adding that he expects this to continue "as long as we do not receive a weather situation of the nature of (Hurricane) Ivan which would cause us to lose valuable work time."
The demolition exercise at Sabina Park commenced last Wednesday. The operation should last six weeks and will see the Air Jamaica Stand, the Red Stripe Mound, the scoreboard, the media area and the Eastern Stand crumbling into history.
Mr. Smith said construction will begin as soon demolition activities are completed. The construction work to be carried out includes the erection of the new North Stand, a new mound, a new scoreboard and the renovation of the Kingston Cricket Club.
Jamaica Cricket 2007 has already begun to sensitise residents who live or work in close proximity to Sabina Park about the possible inconvenience and disturbance that could result from the work being done.
The demolition, rebuilding and renovation exercises now being carried out are a part of the second and final phase of work that will be done at Sabina Park.
The first phase of the project lasted some five months between February and June this year. It involved the relaying of the playing field, renovation of the George Headley Stand and the building of a concourse with spectator amenities in the area which used to be a parking area below the Headley Stand.
But while the Sabina Park renovation seems to be on track, individuals have been expressing concern about the lack of progress at Greenfield. Former West Indies middle order batsman Maurice Foster, for example, was quoted in The Gleaner on June 6, 2005 as saying "There is not a lot of time and nothing seems to be happening there and we aren't getting many answers. It is a nice place for cows and goats to graze, but that seems to be all that is going on there that I can see."
NO WORK DONE AT GREENFIELD
Mr. Smith has given the assurance that although work has not yet started at Greenfield, the grounds that should host warm-up matches and the opening ceremony will be ready in time.
"All our arrangements have been completed and temporary and preparatory works at Greenfield will commence at the end of June," he said. The temporary and preparatory works include the building of an office and shed at the facility, site clearance and the erecting of a fence around the grounds. Mr. Smith estimates that this phase will last for approximately one month after which the construction of the stadium will begin.
Work on both venues should be completed by May next year. It is costing the country US$18.6 million to renovate Sabina Park and another US$23 million for building the stadium at Greenfield.
