We expect that the pledge by Montego Bay Mayor Mr Leeroy Williams to investigate how motor racing cars came to be on the synthetic running track at Montego Bay Sports Complex as part of a video shoot is not just ‘mouth talk’.

We expect those responsible will be held accountable and that there will be full transparency.

Mr Williams, who is chairman of the St James Municipal Corporation, tells us: “I was not aware that this was happening. The municipality has given no permission to anyone to use the facility for any such event.”

We note his query which is on every lip: “How did they [motor cars] get there?” And, further, that “We have security and [the drivers] must have been given access.”

A follow-up news story has high-profile racing driver Mr Doug Gore saying he drove his car on the track without ever coming out of “first gear” as part of the video shoot.

Mr Gore says when access was gained to the stadium he thought the video producers had received permission from “good contacts”.

We suspect that when Mr Williams’ investigation is complete the findings will be highly unpleasant.

Yet, we do not believe this disgusting incident is the crux of the matter.

It seems to us that at the core is the disgraceful neglect of the athletics facility at Catherine Hall, which led some to believe it was okay to do as they pleased there.

For this the Jamaican Government must take blame.

We are reminded by our reporter, Mr Paul Reid, that the synthetic running track — which was laid in 2002 — and the wider sports complex, was a gift from the Venezuelan Government under the PetroCaribe initiative.

We are told that the track has been out of use — apparently since 2018 — because of poor maintenance and the hardened running surface. It had deteriorated to such an extent that it was deemed unsuitable for competition or even training purposes.

Mr Gore is reported as saying he was “astonished at the deplorable condition of not just the track”, but the entire complex. Among the failings he reportedly noticed was that bathrooms did not work.

No wonder, then, as one unnamed individual was reported as saying, “It would appear that people are of the opinion that the track has been abandoned.”

Complaints from western Jamaica coaches and other stakeholders about the state of the Montego Bay Sports Complex have been ongoing for a long time. Mr Williams speaks of discussions with Sports Minister Ms Olivia Grange about upgrading not just the track but the entire complex. Thus far, to no avail.

All of the above flies in the face of the Government’s National Sports Policy “designed to foster greater participation in sport as a means of enhancing intellectual and physical health and facilitating the pursuit of excellence…” And, further, to facilitate “…unique opportunities created by the hosting and participating in international sport competitions and… contribute to economic growth by strengthening Brand Jamaica in the global marketplace”.

This disgraceful episode in Montego Bay highlights the need for Government to translate into action the oft-spouted, nice-sounding words about the importance of sport.