WITH the lease agreement for the Montego Bay Sports Complex still in limbo, Sports Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange says she plans to help to move the process along to ensure the stadium’s upgrade can begin as soon as possible.

The Montego Bay Multi-Sports Development Limited (MBMSD), led by businessman Yoni Epstein, is still awaiting approval from the Ministry of Local Government after emerging as the lone bidder for the lease of the facility in November 2024.

Following a decision to lease the 15-year-old stadium in September 2024, the St James Municipal Corporation (STJMC), which has oversight of the stadium, accepted MBSMD’s bid of $700 million, which would upgrade the stadium into a multi-sport facility.

Despite the stadium, located in Catherine Hall, St James, sustaining significant damage due to Hurricane Melissa last October, Epstein told the Jamaica Observer he was still keen on acquiring the lease and carrying out major projects, including the installation of a new running track.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (left) listens as Sports Minister Olivia “Basby” Grange responds to a question during a Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) press conference at the JAAA headquarters in St Andrew on January 7, 2026. Photo: Naphtali Junior

However, 14 months on and there still has been no confirmation from the Ministry of Local Government. In October Minister Desmond McKenzie, through a release, denied he was “hindering” the project and said the ministry, “will not be prodded or pushed into any premature decision or action based on anticipations or expectations”.

Grange, though, says she intends to take a more active role, despite not having much say in the matter.

“I do have an interest in knowing what’s going on, and I have reached out to the mayor [Richard Vernon] and we will be having a discussion on where it is and what’s proposed,” she said. “I know that [World Athletics President] Lord [Sebastian] Coe has a particular interest in the stadium in the west, and we are also looking at how we are going to give the municipal corporation the support.

“There’s always been this impression that Catherine Hall belongs to central government but it does not — it belongs to local government. And at one point, central and local government were in discussion about the facility and its improvement but then a decision was made to have collaboration between the municipal corporation and private sector, and so that discussion and arrangement is proceeding. We will monitor those discussions and we will ensure that the whole process is fast-tracked, so you will be hearing something soon about what will happen to the facility there.”

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe was due to visit the stadium on Tuesday but never went ahead.

The Catherine Hall-based stadium is the only major sporting facility in the west, and due to the running track being unfit for nearly a decade, events such as the Milo Western Relays have had to be held outside of the region. There was a forced cancellation of that event this year due to their alternate venue, G C Foster College of Physical Education and Sport, in Spanish Town, undergoing construction.

In 2023 Grange expressed a desire for the sports ministry to take control of the stadium, and in 2024 revealed that talks were ongoing with Independence Park Limited at STJMC to sign a memorandum of understanding to upgrade the stadium.

The complex, opened in 2010 at a cost of US $14.9 million, has mostly hosted Jamaica Premier League and schoolboy football games over the past few years.

Businessman Yoni Epstein, chairman of Montego Bay Multi-Sports Development Limited

Loal Government Minister Desmond McKenzie

A view of the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall, St James, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa last year. Photo: Karl Mclarty

Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon

GRANGE… there’s always been this impression that Catherine Hall belongs to central government, but it does not — it belongs to local government Photo: Joseph Wellington