Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

The much-anticipated fireworks on the waterfront to welcome visitors to the island during the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) has been cancelled because of insufficient funds, according to Francis Kennedy, chairman of the Fireworks Organising Committee.

Fireworks on the Waterfront is the calendar event to herald in the New Year. However, it was postponed this year because of the malaria outbreak which affected areas of Kingston.

Mr. Kennedy said in December that the event would be held this month as part of the activities for CWC.

However, when contacted Monday, he said the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for CWC did not deliver the funds to host the event, which was to be held on Saturday between noon and midnight. This was to coincide with the Ireland versus Pakistan match at Sabina Park.

It would have cost some $20 million to host the event.

"I am disappointed, but we just did not have enough funds," Mr. Kennedy said, noting that the LOC and other sponsors of CWC decided to focus on the One Love Village in New Kingston.

Contacted Monday, Robert Bryan, executive director of the LOC, said while his organisation had intended to be part of the fireworks event, the private sector did not keep its end of the bargain.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com