Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie says the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) will not be issuing any further waivers for the erection of banners and billboards for the hosting of Cricket World Cup.

Mayor McKenzie said that since the arrangements commenced for Cricket World Cup, the KSAC had waived fees amounting to more than $15 million for the erection of billboards, among other things, to entities across the Corporate Area.

He said: "$15 million is a lot of revenue to be given up in waivers. I am saying that the KSAC cannot, and will not, consider any further applications for waivers for the erection of banners and billboards for the remaining portion of World Cup Cricket."

The mayor was addressing those gathered Wednesday evening for a ceremony to officially rename Emerald Road in Kingston as George Headley Drive.

He said the KSAC has need for this revenue, adding that the council was currently rehabilitating roads, such as George Headley Drive, Kensington Drive and other roads surrounding Sabina Park.

"So give us some breathing space," he said. "Allow us to make back some revenue so that we can do some work after Cricket World Cup is over."

Cricket World Cup will commence on March 11 with the opening ceremony at the Trelawny Multipurpose Stadium.

Projects to continue

The mayor said following the regional event, some of these projects would continue.

"We are looking at areas that we have done work in, that we have direct responsibility to approach corporate Jamaica," he said. "We will be looking at trying to invite corporate Jamaica to buy into what has taken place in order to maintain what we have done so far."