Richard Morais, Gleaner Writer
An artist's impression of the front of the Greenfield stadium. - CONTRIBUTED
ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, the organisation contracted by the Government to do the environmental impact assessment study of the stadium to be built in Trelawny, says there are no environment problems which should prevent the construction.
During a presentation on the environmental impact assessment to the public at the William Knibb High School recently, managing director of Environmental Solutions, Eleanor Jones, said the final submission of her organisation's study be communicated to the National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA). She tabulated the areas of her investigation and did not highlight any areas of great concern.
While NEPA's representatives were at the meeting, they did not comment on the time when approval might be granted for the stadium. However, a well-placed source said that the approval will be granted in a matter of days as parts of the study had been given to the relevant authorities on an ongoing basis. Meanwhile, preliminary work which had started at the stadium has been halted. Project manager of Jamaica Cricket 2007 Limited, Christopher Smith, said the plans for the stadium are well advanced and full-scale work is just waiting on the necessary approvals. He noted that the start-up date is flexible but the completion date of November 30 is fixed. He had all the confidence that this deadline will be met despite the snags in gaining the approval to begin construction of the stadium.
APPROVAL
Two weeks ago, chairman of World Cup Cricket 2007 Limited, Dr. Wayne Reid complained about the 'slow pace' NEPA in granting environmental approval for the new stadium at Rock,Trelawny. Jamaica Cricket World Cup 2007 Limited is the local organising committee for Cricket World Cup and will oversee the staging of the opening ceremony, six preliminary games and a semi-final. Jamaica will also be the host country for the West Indies team.
Chinese workers are already on location carrying out site preparation work in Trelawny and more workers are expected to arriveby Wednesday once their visas have been granted.
