KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister with responsibility for Sports, Natalie Neita-Headley, says funds have been identified to develop the Gray’s Inn sport complex in St Mary. 

According to Neita-Headley the parish’s three Members of Parliament have committed $700,000 each, from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) towards the development of the complex. 

Those funds will be matched by a $2.3million donation from Jamaica Producers, Neita-Headley disclosed at a Social Development Commission (SDC) parish forum, held at the St Mary High School on Thursday, February 21. 

She was responding to a member of the audience, who wanted to know about the Government’s development plan for sporting facilities in the community.

The upgrade is expected to allow the holding of Premier League football matches at the venue.

The minister said that Government was looking at a comprehensive plan to ensure that children living in rural areas have access to at least one proper sporting facility within reasonable distance to where they live.

In the case of St Mary, Neita Headley said that facility would be Clermont Park, which is the most central site, adding that the Sports Development Foundation will be looking to develop the venue as a proper multi-purpose facility.

“We are looking to see how quickly we can put in a proper field, proper basketball, netball and volleyball court, proper fencing, and seating,” she told the forum.