In the build-up to the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean, the Jamaican Government spent more than US$100 million on infrastructure and other preparations for the Jamaica leg of that tournament.

Well in excess of US$60 million was spent on stadia. About half of that money went to the building of the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium close to Falmouth, the other half to the modernisation and virtual rebuilding of the nation’s historic headquarters of cricket, Sabina Park in Kingston.

The extent of the expenditure wasn’t an easy sell. Sceptics, not least the then Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, led at the time by Mr Bruce Golding, argued that it was a flagrant waste of taxpayers’ money.

There were reports at the time suggesting that even within his own Cabinet, then Prime Minister Mr P J Patterson had to deal with objections to the cricket World Cup spend.

Part of Mr Patterson’s defence was that the two modern stadia would serve as lasting “legacies” for the benefit not just of the cricket fraternity, but for sports and entertainment in Jamaica.

At Sabina Park, the improvements were very visible in terms of an expanded George Headley Stand and the imposing North Stand. Pleasing to the eye were impressive, privately leased luxury boxes; modern facilities for players, officials and media; comfortable seating; and superbly appointed restrooms for the general public.

For traditional cricket watchers, equally, if not even more impressive, was the work on the Sabina outfield. It was dug up and resurfaced with modern drainage systems installed.

The proof of the pudding is always in the eating and pretty soon cricket watchers knew the work on the outfield constituted money well spent. For even after the heaviest downpours, Sabina was ready for play within minutes — surface water having drained way and disappeared.

For years, Sabina could boast of being among the fastest draining cricket grounds anywhere. Of course, it was also accepted that maintenance had to be a key element. Without proper maintenance even the best built facility comes under threat.

Against all that backdrop comes the news that last week, for the first two days of the four-day franchise game between Jamaica Scorpions and the Windward Islands Volcanoes, only 60-odd overs of play was possible because of a wet outfield. Light rain, which in times past would have had only negligible effect in terms of moisture on Sabina’s playing surface, had left wet spots which simply would not go away — poor drainage being the obvious culprit.

Play yesterday in the game between the Scorpions and Barbados Pride was abandoned, and even more time is likely to be lost over the next three scheduled days.

We note that the authorities at Sabina Park have pledged to conduct a probe to determine what has gone wrong with the drainage. This newspaper expects that the findings will be made public and that anyone found culpable will be held accountable.

The Jamaican taxpayers should expect no less.