By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
PRESIDENT OF the St. James Football Association (St. JFA) George Evans is excited over what he thinks is a big boost for the sport in St. James as its two major venues are to get well needed structural and development work soon.
After years of neglect, the Urban Development Commission (UDC) Field, on Howard Cooke Boulevard, and the Albion Field are both in line for improvements early in 2003.
Local authorities have approached the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) on behalf of both venues, which are used extensively by the St. JFA and others primarily for football purposes, and hopes are high.
Both fields are used on an almost seven days a week basis for games, training and recreational purposes but are bereft of the basic infrastructures including seating, perimeter fencing or changing facilities.
One reason for the high hopes came in a letter to the St. JFA from the UDC granting it a five year license to use the field on Howard Cooke Boulevard.
A letter from the UDC over the signature of it's Legal Officer Mrs. Barbara Hall said that the duration of the "bare licence" will be from March 1, 2002 to February 28th 2007 with an option to be renewed for a further three years "if the field is not required for development purposes or if there is no material breach of any of the Licensee's duties and obligations." The letter from the UDC also pointed out that the agreement was not a lease, as it "has no intentions of granting a lease."
The letter also pointed out that the opening hours for the UDC Field on Howard Cooke is to be 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Evans said in a release that his association was "delighted" with the granting of the licence and "was elated at the turn of events after nearly two years of exhausting attempts."
The FA and the UDC were engaged in a public war of words in late 2002 because of what the FA thought was their attempt to get a lease agreement from the UDC being ignored.
The release from the FA said that the SDF had being approached with a view of funding the development of both venues and from feedback, the reactions have been positive.
Evans said that they were renewing their approach to the SDF concerning the UDC field as their first attempt some time ago was rejected as they could only get a two-year lease on the property.
The FA's proposal for a $4 million renovation and upgrading of the field to include changing rooms and perimeter fencing had been approved pending a longer lease. The plan Evans said was "scuppered" after they were only able to get a two-year management deal then.
With the granting of this new agreement, Evans said, they could go ahead with the plans and are hoping, with the release of the CHASE Funds in the new year, they would revisit the project as all the ground works including engineering and quantity surveying had already been completed.
Evans also added that an annual fee of $12,000 that is being charged by the UDC for the use of the field on Howard Cooke Boulevard was "more than fair and reasonable and has no problem with this and the other terms and conditions" laid down by the owners.
The Albion field that is owned and managed by the Social Development Commission (SDC) and is being used by the FA is also to come in for some work in the near future.
The release said that the SDC has approached the SDF for funding and Evans pointed out that he was confident both projects would receive help from the government body and the sport of football in the parish would be the beneficiary in the long run.
Evans also said that he was pleased with the development of the new sports complex at Catherine Hall but admitted that he was well aware that when the project was completed is would not be used on a daily basis but reserved for special occasions, once all the structures were in place.
