Fri | Dec 12, 2025

Lucea gets multi-purpose court, thanks to Spruce-up Jamaica

Published:Thursday | July 10, 2025 | 12:06 AMBryan Miller/Gleaner Writer
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Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett (4th left) is, assisted by Member of Parliament for Hanover Western, Tamika Davis (3rd right), to cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the all-purpose court at the Lords playing field, in Lucea, Hanover.
Bryan Miller
Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett (4th left) is, assisted by Member of Parliament for Hanover Western, Tamika Davis (3rd right), to cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the all-purpose court at the Lords playing field, in Lucea, Hanover.
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett (third left), cuts the ribbon to officially hand over the rehabilitated Lord’s Multipurpose Court in Malcolm Heights, Hanover, on Thursday. Sharing the moment are Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development C
Contributed
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett (third left), cuts the ribbon to officially hand over the rehabilitated Lord’s Multipurpose Court in Malcolm Heights, Hanover, on Thursday. Sharing the moment are Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company, Wade Mars (left); Executive Director of the Jamaica Vacations, Joy Roberts (second left); Member of Parliament for Hanover Western, Tamika Davis (fourth left), and other stakeholders.
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WESTERN BUREAU:

Residents of Malcolm Heights, Seaview Drive and Central in Lucea, Hanover, now have a new reason to strive for sporting excellence as the newly improved Lords playing field and multi-purpose court was officially reopened on Thursday.

The transformation of the facility was done through the Ministry of Tourism’s “Spruce up Jamaica” programme, which saw some J$5 million being spent on improvement work at the facility.

The work began in late 2024 but was halted by a stop order from the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) because no architectural drawings were submitted to the corporation for the work to be carried out as per its regulation. After that matter was resolved, the work proceeded to its conclusion without further issues.

Wade Mars, executive director of the Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo), in addressing the ribbon-cutting ceremony to reopen the facility, said the improvement of the space by his organisation was an investment in Hanover and its future.

“We are trying our best to get things done in Hanover, despite whatever roadblocks we may encounter ... we are trying our best to get things done,” Mars told The Gleaner.

Bishop Robert Williams, pastor of the nearby Lucea New Testament Church of God, gave an undertaking that users of the facility would be allowed to use the washrooms at his church as the facility was completed without any bathroom facilities included.

Welcoming the gesture by Williams, Mars said he was disappointed that Lucea’s Mayor Sheridan Samuels was not present for the ceremony.

“I am really sorry the mayor is not here” said Mars, noting that representatives from TPDCo will be doing a tour of the church to see how they may assist the church in return for its kind offer.