CHAIRMAN of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), David Mais, has implored the government and other interest groups to put heads together in establishing a fund that will go towards paying for lights at community-based sports venues across the island.

Speaking to the Observer at the recent awards ceremony of the Clarendon Football Association, Mais said while most facilities built by the SDF and other organisations are in good condition, they are under-utilised.

“What happens is that the facilities are used in the afternoon and (then in the) evening they are no longer used,” Mais said.

“… The reason for that is the cost of electricity is a little more than a community can bear, so I’m suggesting that with this investment in infrastructure we will now need to take a look… and see where we can put lights in.”

Mais said making these facilities available to the residents at nights will not only increase their use, but will also benefit to the country socially.

“The facilities may not be of international competition standard, but they can be used for recreational purposes by the community,” he said.

“We focus a lot in this country on the exploits of Usain Bolt, and that’s fantastic — he’s such a wonderful person — but that’s at a highly competitive level.

“We have people who’re suffering from diabetes and if we had the proper programmes for them to exercise it wouldn’t be costing the country so much,” the SDF top man reasoned.

“When the lights are turned on in communities like Tivoli Gardens, just take a look at the number of children who leave their homes and come to use the facilities.

“… For three hours you have sporting activities taking place — which are pretty well supervised — they are learning different things… how to negotiate, conflict resolution and they are learning how to get on with different people.”

Asked where the money will come from to fund a project of this magnitude, Mais said: “… Take a look at the Corporate Area. The funds for street lights are collected by the KSAC (Kingston and St Andrew Corporation); that’s an important collection method that could be (followed).”

He added: “A parish like Clarendon is making claims… that they have tremendous economic activities taking place, housing development and so on.

“(They) are saying the contribution that the residents make in terms of taxation is disproportionate because… the parish is paying for other people’s challenges. It maybe a little bit of a selfish position to take, but it is an understandable one.

“So, I’m saying where you have communities where a project serves 500 homes then maybe we can find a formula that will collect electricity cost and spread it over those houses,” Mais said.