Opposition Spokesman on Sports, Wavell Hinds has blasted the Government for not honouring its commitment to pour J$100 into an investment fund for the development of youth cricket in Jamaica.

The commitment was announced in a news release issued on September 23, 2023 by the Minister of Sport, Olivia Grange.

“The Government reinforced this on March 12, 2024, when then Finance Minister Nigel Clarke announced in his budget presentation that J$40 million [of the amount] would be allocated in that fiscal year to kickstart this three-year programme,” said Hinds.

He was speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday during his maiden contribution to the Sectoral Debate.

Hinds told the House that a statement to members issued by the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) on February 24, 2026 shows that: “To date, out of that magnificent J$100 million promise, the JCA has received only J$7.4 million – a single payment disbursed way back on February 18, 2025”.

“That is less than eight per cent of the promised development fund,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hinds also rapped the government for what he described as a missed opportunity to market Jamaica as a sports tourism destination while earning US dollars, due to its failure to bid for the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup that was held across the region in June 2024.

He displayed a chart which he said showed the true economic impact of the event.

“Our regional neighbours submitted their bids, built their infrastructure, and reaped massive economic rewards, said Hinds. He highlighted that Barbados generated US$426 million in earnings; St Vincent & the Grenadines brought in US$225 million; St Lucia US$133 million; Antigua and Barbuda captured US$114; Guyana secured US$77 million; while Trinidad and Tobago saw an economic impact of US$69 million.

“And what did Jamaica make from this multi-million dollar regional windfall? Zero!” said Hinds while arguing that it was “because this government completely failed to submit a bid to host World Cup matches”.

“When they were pressured and criticised for this massive failure, they used the J$100 Million Cricket Fund announcement as a political shield to quiet public anger,” he asserted.

“They failed our sports tourism sector by not bidding for the World Cup, they promised J$100 million in lieu of that failure, and today they have delivered less than eight per cent of that promise,” he continued.

Hinds argued that the real-world consequences of this underfunding are that while press conferences are plentiful, grassroots cricket continues to deteriorate.

“Look at our schools; primary school cricket remains severely neglected by this Government,” he said.

The Member of Parliament for Clarendon Northern and former Jamaica and West Indies cricketer lamented that community programmes remain inconsistent.

“How do we expect the JCA to unearth and polish the next generation of cricketing masters in rural communities like Croft’s Hill, Authur’s Seat, Guava Ground, Bog Hole, Desire, John’s Hall, or Morgan’s Pass when the grassroots pipeline has been systematically starved?” he asked.

“We are systematically eroding the foundational sport of the Caribbean out of our school curriculum, leaving our local fields completely abandoned. The pipeline that once produced generations of West Indian excellence continues to weaken,” he said.

The Opposition spokesman told his government counterparts that, “now is the time for structural reform. Not slogans. Not press conferences. Not photo ops but real and meaningful reform”.

-Lynford Simpson