Officials from the National Works Agency (NWA) and Junior Minister for Transport and Works, Richard Azan, toured sections of the road improvement project on South Camp Road in Kingston yesterday. Here, the group was seen in discussion outside the newly-refurbished Sabina Park. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

The Government has given a mid-February deadline to complete all works on South Camp Road and adjoining roads in preparation for Cricket World Cup 2007.

State Minister for Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Richard Azan, said the National Works Agency (NWA) would spend about $171 million to carry out road pavement.

However, he told journalists yesterday during a tour of sections of South Camp Road that the completion of the project on time was dependent on other agencies, such as the National Water Commission (NWC), in finishing their part of the work.

Giving different dates

"NWC is one of those (agencies) that is giving different dates to finish, but we have to give them a time period that they have to get out of this place not later than next week," Mr. Azan insisted.

Meanwhile, Mr. Azan has confirmed reports that businesses in the vicinity of Sabina Park would have to be closed during match days. Cricket World Cup 2007 is scheduled to begin on March 11 and Jamaica will host warm-up matches as well as first round games.

One business person told The Gleaner that a meeting is to be held with the authorities to determine whether businesses could remain open during the event.

Some business operators have complained that they have seen a significant decline in their income since work started on South Camp Road in October last year. Others have argued that, during the ICC Cricket World Cup, they could lose millions of dollars, as several roads would be restricted to vehicular traffic.