PORTLAND’S prime football field Carder Park was finally lit last Saturday night through the efforts of CHASE (Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education) Fund, Portland Football Association, Portland Municipal Corporation, Portland Western and Portland Eastern Members of Parliament Daryl and Ann-Marie Vaz, respectively, and Action Ann Foundation. Phase One of the Carder Park development project is estimated to cost $165 million as $47 million has been spent.

Portland Football Association President and Portland Municipal Corporation Superintendent of Works Raymond Grant is elated.

“As the president of the Portland Football Association I want to use this opportunity to thank you wholeheartedly for joining in this historic moment as we launch the official lighting of Carder Park Complex,” he said. “The official lighting of the Carder Park Complex is just a part of the overall development of Carder Park. We started just over two years ago with the plan to develop the complex for over $165 million. The Portland Football Association, along with the Portland Municipal Corporation, sought the assistance of both Members of Parliament Daryl Vaz and Ann-Marie Vaz (Western and Eastern Portland, respectively). Through their assistance and public-private partnership we have managed to complete phase one of the project.

“Phase one of the project was sponsored and supported by the CHASE Fund to the tune of $20 million, and the Portland Municipal Corporation, $3 million.

“We were not comfortable with the stands as it needed some supporting facilities. We went back to both Members of Parliament and CHASE Fund, and CHASE supported with another $9 million and we were able to complete the facilities under the stands. As president, I was still not comfortable so I approached the MPs again and, through the Action Ann Foundation, we got another $15 million so we were able to deal with the lighting and fencing you are seeing here now.”

Portland Institute of Sports officer and former Reggae Girl Sharon Harris, welcomed the development. I thank all the parties involved for making this move lighting Carder Park,” she said. “It is great for sports development in Portland, especially football. I got my first chance from here and was one of the first females to make the Jamaican team. This is your time to make your first chance. I thank you all for making this a reality, lighting Carder Park on this historic occasion.”

Port Antonio Mayor Paul Thompson thanked the investors.

“I thank all who have rallied together to make this a reality — the Action Ann Foundation, JPS Foundation, CHASE Fund, and both Members of Parliament, as I am profoundly grateful,” he said.

Portland Western Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz said, “This is a public-private partnership and this is for all the people of Portland to enjoy and develop [in order] to become national and international representatives.”

Carder Park is located in Ann-Marie Vaz’s constituency of Portland Eastern.

“This is a happy and historic day for me and for us,” she said. “I wanted this day to come for a very long time as there is a place for night football in Portland. Rural development is as important as urban development as for far too long rural communities are left behind without the necessary resources to develop and come to their true potential. Many of you here and your families played on this field and today this is a celebration for all of us. I thank the Portland Football Association, led by Raymond Grant, the Government, and all the other sponsors. This is the end of phase one and ladies, we will be looking at your sport also… [so that you] can have night sport also.”

Portland Football Association had a double-header in the Portland Western Union Major League as Berrydale SC held Manchioneal CC to a goalless draw and Progressive FC defeated Rio United 3-0.