FALMOUTH, Trelawny — The Trelawny Parish Council is threatening to cancel the staging of the Supreme Ventures Sports Betting Cricket Festival scheduled for the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium tomorrow and Sunday, unless the organisers acquire the requisite permission from the local body to host the event.

The local authority’s position was taken at yesterday’s regular monthly meeting of the council, after reports surfaced that the organisers of the event had not sought permission from the local authority to host the event.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that we have no problem with the games at the Stadium, but the organisers must comply with the council’s regulations,” Mayor of Falmouth and chairman of the council Colin Gager told the meeting, adding that the regulations of the parish council must be complied with.

According to Gager, the Trelawny Health and Fire Departments also reported to the meeting that they have not received any information from the organisers regarding the hosting of the games at the facility.

But president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Paul Campbell last night denied that the organisers of the festival have not been in dialogue with the council and other government agencies in the parish, regarding the staging of the inaugural event.

” My events manager has been in contact with the parish council,” Campbell said. “He went there, he got the fire department to come and do the inspection (at the stadium) and he got the application from the council for the permit and was told that the application could not be submitted unless the cheque was submitted at the same time,” Campbell explained.

He noted that cheque has since been prepared and will be delivered to the parish council, along with the relevant application forms, today.

The Parish Council regulations state that any individual, company or organisation staging a public event should apply to the council for an event licence under the Places of Amusement Regulations.

Gager emphasised yesterday the he would not sit by and allow any individual or entity to flout the council’s laws.

He argued that it would be best for the Cricket Festival not to happen than for patrons to risk being injured or killed because the necessary measures were not put in place.

“This (cricket festival) is a very big event and all we are asking for is that the necessary permissions be sought and the requisite measures be implemented to ensure the safety and security of patrons,” he explained.

He warned that if the council does not receive an application from the organisers by today, “then I can assure everyone that this Cricket Festival will not be held at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.”