Jamaica-Australia governments, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) sign MoU

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Football Federation Australia (FFA), under which FFA, that will provide support for CONCACAF and other JFF-related projects in Jamaica from funds made available by the Australian government for sports development programmes in the region.

In 2009 at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, the Australian government had announced its commitment to development programmes in the Caribbean, particularly through sports. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had stated that the Australian government recognised sports "as a vehicle to achieve important social development objectives, especially where young people are involved".

Those signing the MOU were Sports Minister Olivia Grange, Captain Horace Burrell, president of the JFF, and John Boultbee, head of international affairs at the FFA. The signing coincided with the visit of FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, and CONCACAF president, Austin 'Jack' Warner, during their visit to Jamaica last week.

The MOU details the technical and socio-political cooperation in sports between Jamaica and Australia and, in particular, between the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the JFF and their respective Australian counterparts.

"I am very pleased with this MOU between my Ministry and the JFF on one side and Football Federation Australia on the other," said Grange. "Its provisions mean significant assistance to enhance the Government's sports development programmes and it provides support for the JFF's programme for football development in Jamaica.

"We must thank Australia for this great show of cooperation with Jamaica and we look forward to the long-form agreement signed by all the relevant parties, which will follow the MOU as we continue the fruitful relationship between the two countries."

Expressing satisfaction

Horace Reid, general secretary of the JFF, expressed satisfaction.

"It is with great pleasure that the JFF enters into this arrangement with both the Government of Jamaica through its Ministry of Sports and the Football Federation of Australia," said Reid.

"Undoubtedly, this partnership will assist greatly in facilitating and accelerating the development of our football infrastructure. The Australian government should be commended for this initiative and equally, the Football Federation of Australia for considering Jamaica's football as one of the beneficiaries of this vision."

Support provided by the FFA

The support provided by the FFA will be financial or in-kind support such as resources, education and equipment or all. Australian experts and companies will help to implement the various initiatives. Such support will come either from the FFA or Australian agencies directly to the ministry, the JFF or to other entities, including government or non-governmental, depending on the nature of the project.

The Australian government has indicated it will be spending some A$60 million for such programmes throughout the Caribbean.

Negotiations leading up to the signing of the MOU were initiated by Peter Hargitay, senior strategy adviser to Australia's FIFA 2022 World Cup bid and the FFA and were facilitated by Minister Grange, along with Mike Henry, minister of transport and works, who has a special interest in football and is president of the Humble Lion Football Club in Clarendon.