ORACABESSA, St Mary — The long-awaited construction of a mini stadium in this community has commenced amid a public declaration that parties will not be allowed at the facility and that people must pay to use it.

“Somebody has to pay the light bill, and the light bill has to be paid from the revenue that we earn coming into the facility… The days of freeness done. And if the high school wants to use it, if it is even $1 they must throw towards it. When everything too free nobody don’t value it and it mash up and then the politicians get the cussing,” Member of Parliament (MP) for St Mary Western Robert Montague said during the launch of the project last Thursday.

The project, he disclosed, is slated for completion within the next six months.

“Wi gonna be spending $22 million on this facility to put in seats, changing rooms, fence and those things,” Montague added.

He also said there are plans to further develop the complex with a six-lane, 400-metre track around the football field; a children’s playing area; a hard court for netball and basketball; 10 shops for vendors from the community; and an area for practice football matches.

Mindful that ground-breaking ceremonies were held previously without any work being done subsequently, Montague explained that the protracted delay was due to a lack of funding.

“We have had about three false starts,” he admitted. “This time wi not taking nuh false start, and wi going to start and wi going to finish — and by the help of God we are going to have the best mini stadium in the Caribbean right here in Oracabessa. After that, wi going to turn it into a big, big stadium so that we can have international matches here. It might not happen tomorrow, it might not happen next week, but wi must have a vision and plan, and one day it will be coming to fruition.”

The MP also urged the contractor, Wadmar Construction, to ensure that the project is completed within budget and on time.

That request will be fulfilled, according to Wadmar’s Managing Director Mark Knight.

“One thing I can tell you is that this project will be done on time and it will be within budget. The project is starting now, as we speak, and we should be able to complete it within six months — or before the six-month contract period — with the highest quality work for the Oracabessa people to enjoy,” Knight told the Jamaica Observer.

Elaborating on why no parties will be allowed at the facility, Montague said the playing field was left in a bad condition on a previous occasion when a party was held there.

To ensure that the rules of the mini stadium are upheld, the MP requested that the current management team be revamped.

That process will be led by the Councillor Sheldon Kidd (Oracabessa Division) who, like Montague, is a member of the governing Jamaica Labour Party.

“I want him to put a management team in place for the facility because wi not going to have nuh dance over here or nuh big stage show and all dem something,” said Montague. “And if it is no dance, it means no dance for everybody… We must have some rules lay out that must be applied equally to everybody because we have to maintain this facility. I don’t want to hear any fuss, because a sports field is supposed to be the place where the community comes together — and I want to ensure that the community comes together,” he added.

Kidd accepted the challenge tasked to him.

“It is very integral that we have such a management committee in place…” he told the Observer. “The grounds have to be properly managed, so that not any and everybody who wants to use it for an event will get it at their request; it has to be decided by a committee.

“I am profoundly happy about this particular project. It has been envisioned by MP Montague a long time ago… It took some time, however, for the Sports Development Foundation to come on board [regarding funding] and I am happy that they have done so because this facility will enhance the development of Oracabessa.”

Among the handful of residents who witnessed the latest launch of the project was Rehum Russell, who is of the view that the mini stadium will be of significant benefit to the community.

“We expect something to go on that will benefit the youth of this community, and not for it to wait too late [to be completed] that people like me might not see it,” he said. “Let’s bring back sports, good health, and hope that some of our youth will be seen abroad playing football.”

Montague, in the meantime, recalled that the land now being used as the community’s playing field was reclaimed from the sea in the 1970s. He added that, while he was brainstorming how it could be used to benefit the community, the then councillor, Bruce Farrel suggested that it be used as a playing field. Thereafter, Montague started the long, hard campaign that led to the marshy area being transformed into a playing field.

He admitted that the local authorities are not in possession of the title for the land but said the State-owned Urban Development Corporation has claimed to be its owner.