ST JAMES, Jamaica — Prominment Montego Bay businessman Lloyd B Smith has called for the rehabilitation of the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall, St James, as he decried the absence of a high-calibre sporting facility in the resort city.

Recently, in a widely circulated video, a car was seen racing on the track at the facility.

The video was widely condemned and saw a backlash from track and field lovers as well as from the wider society, including the St James Municipal Corporation.

“Let us see the Catherine Hall Sports Complex (Montego Bay Sports Complex) become properly developed and rehabilitated. It is a damn shame and disgrace that Montego Bay does not have a sporting facility of any calibre you know. Have you stopped to think about that? The other day dem start race car pon the track over there (Catherine Hall). Jarrett Park is not in a proper state,” said Smith, who is a former member of Parliment for St James Central.

“Montego Bay is the jewel of Jamaica. It is the most outstanding tourism destination in the Caribbean. It is the fastest growing city in the Caribbean in terms of economic development. We deserve better. Give Montego Bay more that it deserves,” Smith demanded.

He reflected that Montego Bay footballers were once the cream of the crop in football but “we no longer have football facilities”.

“We have seen the fall and decline of football. We used to produce the best footballers for Jamaica for a long time,” Smith stated.

He was speaking at the launch of West Side JA island lifestyle web series with Janet Silvera, stories of success from western Jamaica, at the S Hotel in Montego Bay recently.

The Catherine Hall Sports Complex was officially opened in 2010.