THE Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has offered to replace lost equipment and fix damage done to facilities at the National Stadium swimming pools by supporters attending Sunday’s public session of the party’s 63rd annual conference at the National Arena in Kingston.

However, JLP general secretary Karl Samuda told the Observer that while the party was not accepting culpability for the incident, they were willing to pay for the damage as the incident occurred while the conference was taking place on Sunday.

JLP supporters allegedly broke into an office at the back of the stadium pools and removed computers, computer equipment and administrative supplies.

A source told the Observer that Atlas Electronic Security Systems, which provides electronic security for the stadium pools, responded to three alerts on Sunday and reported the matter to the Stadium police as well as their clients. The security company, the source said, subsequently responded a fourth time, but could not gain access to the facility due to the large crowd at the arena. This was confirmed yesterday by the management of Atlas.

Yesterday morning a large hole was seen in a section of the fence where it is believed persons gained access to the property and damaged the offices of Swim Jamaica, located at the back of the complex.

The break-in yesterday forced Swim Jamaica to cancel activities scheduled for the day, which affected more than 200 youngsters across the island.

However, the main offices which houses the Swimming Association of Jamaica were left untouched.

Major Desmon Brown, the general manager of Independence Park Limited, operators of the stadium pools, confirmed the incident.

“Well a particular building in the swimming pool area was broken into and a number of items were stolen,” Major Brown said. “The matter was reported to the police… we have also reported the matter to the JLP’s Mr Samuda and he has asked us to send them a list of the damage and the missing items,” Major Brown noted told the Observer.

The Swimming Association, Brown said, was in the process of preparing the list when he spoke with the Observer shortly after mid-day.

Independence Park Limited also operates the National Arena; the National Indoor Sports Complex, Leila Robinson Courts, the Basketball Courts and the National Stadium Track.

President of the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica, Captain John Eyre told the Observer that the organisation was often affected when big events, including conferences, were staged at the arena.

However, he said Sunday’s incident was the worst to date.

“To me it is not a political issue because whenever we have big conference and meeting here an element tends to like the idea that they want to go into the pool at their own free will,” said Captain Eyre.

The veteran sports administrator said, however, that the JLP leadership has responded very well.

“It’s a little disappointing when you realise that there are elements in our society that really have no respect for other people’s property, but at the same time it re-inforces the values that we are trying to develop within our young people through Swim Jamaica and through our National Swimming Programme,” said Captain Eyre.

In the meantime, Major Brown said his organisation would be asking the political parties and other organisation which hold functions at the facility to put things in place to “manage the behaviour” of persons from their groups.