WITH floodlights recently installed at Sabina Park and night activity at the venue expected to become commonplace, the security of patrons and the issue of suitable and safe parking have been brought into sharp focus.

One of the Caribbean’s leading cricket grounds, Sabina Park is nestled in the heart of Kingston, surrounded by some of the city’s harsher residential communities.

But Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) boss Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven said an arrangement with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to use the nearby Up Park Camp army base for spectator parking is a huge benefit.

A partnership with Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is expected to cover the shuttle service to and from the cricket venue.

“Sabina Park Holdings has put in place an agreement with JDF at Up Park Camp. I think it’s for one year in the first instance. It’s really a ‘park and ride’ situation, which is perhaps the way of the world. We encourage our patrons to use Up Park Camp. That creates a better feeling of security,” Heaven told the Jamaica Observer.

“It (safe parking) is a big issue and I know the feeling where people want to enjoy themselves and go back and find their vehicles intact. Whenever we are planning we use two senior security personnel to make the arrangements. We have our planning meetings and a planning process and we are confident it will bring us good results.”

Heaven thanked Sabina’s neighbours St George’s College and Holy Trinity for “always making their facilities available” to assist with parking for cricket watchers, and said he expects those options to remain open.

With regards to general safety in and around the venue for night engagements, and the possible need for reinforced security, the JCA president insisted that contingencies will be assessed and used where necessary.

“Outside of the national security forces, we have always engaged private security. We will try to cover as much of the anticipated eventualities as possible, but I believe if we are very strategic in our moves then we will be successful in providing adequate security,” he said.