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Sports minister Olivia Grange says while 'it was not an easy decision' to forego putting in a formal bid for the T20 World Cup, the Government felt it was more worthwhile to prioritise investing in developing local cricket from the grassroots.

She announced in a media release on Saturday that the Government will invest $100 million in the development of youth cricket and cricket in schools over the next five years. She said this was in addition to the rehabilitation and development of Jamaica's sports infrastructure.

She said it would have cost nearly half a billion dollars to host a few games in Jamaica.

"In our cost/benefit analysis with stakeholders, we also considered the economic, social and development impact, including the potential tourism-related impact and attendant industry benefits using year-over-year economic modelling, reconciled against current tourism performance," the sports minister stated.

However, Grange said at the end of the consultations with stakeholders it was decided that funding the development of local cricket would be a better spend.

"It was not an easy decision and I very much understand and share the disappointment of fans who wanted to see T20 World Cup games being played in Jamaica. However, I could not just follow my heart. As a responsible Minister I am obliged to look beyond immediate gratification to sustainable sport development that will yield immeasurable rewards at all levels in Jamaica.


"I had to pay attention to the cost/benefit analysis, especially in a circumstance of limited resources. In order to play our part in, hopefully in the not too distant future, fixing West Indies Cricket, we will prioritise investment in the local game," Grange said.

Source: Jamaica-gleaner.com

Well, at least that’s Babsy’s perspective on the entire embarrassing matter, although there might not have been sufficient cricket fan base in Jamaica to full even a stand at Sabina Park, so might be a great idea to invest into youth cricket development, instead.

In reply to Slipfeeler

I dont normally agree with the LabaWrangs but they are absolutely right to forego bidding on the lickit bullspit…invest that money in doctors, nurses, teachers and proper sports

In reply to FanAttick

I share your sentiments entirely. But when I hear investments of $100m JA over 5 years I wannna know
what form this investment will take..because this is just a few thousand US dollars over a significant period..
Getting schools to return to cricket and youth to be coached and playing in good environment(cricket fields) plus adequate equipment
for use not to mention actually playing games with attendant transportation costs, take real money.
And who will be running and responsible for seeing this through..The JCA ? SDC or new body ?

I am seeing a deflection called excuse here for now although it is a good idea.
Come on Babsy give us some concrete plans with expectations to boot.

In reply to hubert

Agreed, might be a deflection but she is utilizing some very valid points, knowing that the interest in cricket as a sport in Jamaica has already expired.

In reply to Slipfeeler

Now if we can assume that the Honorable Babsy's usage of "nearly" comports with ours, then she is talking more than 450 million JA dollars over the next year or so.
Instead she opted to spend 100 million JA dollars over the next 5 years.

450 million in 1 year as opposed to 100 million over 5 years

If when the decision was made not to spend the 450 million to bid for the World Cup,the Honorable Babsy had called a Press Conference and stated what she stated this weekend she and the GOJ would have had far more credibility in this matter.

At 150 to 1, spending 20 million JA dollars over the next year is patently absurd in terms of significantly improving JA cricket infrastructure and getting cricket back in the schools, assisting domestic clubs and revitalizing cricket competitions. To spend $135,000 USD in a year is a pittance when you look at what the Government is spending on other things annually.That is less than 1 person's pay packet annually!!!!!!!

There is consternation in some quarters with news emerging that Jamaica will not feature at all in the region's hosting of the 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's Twenty20 (T20) World Cup.

The Observer has learnt that the JCA's documentation was delivered to the Prime Minister Andrew Holness-led Government months ago.

The recommendation was for the Jamaican Government to submit a bid for Sabina Park to host a group match and a semi-final fixture.

Up to press time on Tuesday, the Observer tried without success to get a response from Minister of Sport Olivia Grange despite several phone calls to her contact number. There was no reply to questions sent via e-mail.

“All the other SMALLER Caribbean countries saw benefits in hosting Games however, having almost 2B people seeing Jamaica over a a month period and having fans from India, Pakistan, England, Australia and New Zealand in Jamaica, are not beneficial enough? I hope The Finance Minister had no role to play in the cost/benefit analysis as Public sector workers and most Jamaicans , except his colleagues, are still trying to understand his high level maths used in the compensation Review. Or it could be a case of not enough can be siphoned from the project through building new infrastructure as we already have 2 cricket specific stadiums and the road network around both are excellent and their are copious amount of hotel and Airbnb rooms available in close proximity to both stadiums. I would love for the Minister to share the Cost/Benefit analysis with the public”.

In reply to Slipfeeler

You do not think West Indians,Indians,Pakistanis,British,Australians,New Zealanders,Bangladshis,Lankans and South Africans would leave New,York,New Jersey and Connecticut to fly from JFK to Kingston to watch cricket whilst at the same time grabbing the opportunity to enjoy beautiful Jamaica??????

I hope they are smart and follow the template of the local "School Football Competion".
or better yet the "Jamaica Track and Field Competition".

In-corporate all the primary and prep school in the country.
The money should be distribute evenly among all the schools
But I fear the top school in the corporate area will get most of the money

In reply to jahmekyah

You do recognize that spending $135,000 USD over the next year on cricket development is a joke???

In reply to Slipfeeler


although there might not have been sufficient cricket fan base in Jamaica to full even a stand at Sabina Park, so might be a great idea to invest into youth cricket development, instead.

I am not too sure i agree with you. i live in St.Ann close to two cricket field with lights,restuarants and bar.
The Bauxite company operate one with parking for about 200 cars. the other is across the street from "Green Grotto Cave"
On weekends during cricket season the grounds are pack, especially during the play off. St. Mary usually get the better of us.

ONLY ONE PROBLEM IT IS NOT PROMOTED.YOU WILL NOT SEE THIS ON TV. IT IS VAGUELY MENTIONED IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS.

IT IS ONLY PROMOTED VIA THE GRASSROOT LEVEL ...WORD A MOUTH.
Jamaica Cricket Association is doing a Piss Poor Job

In reply to Dukes

You do recognize that spending $135,000 USD over the next year on cricket development is a joke?

SURE IS. but it is a start, trying to be optimistic here.

In reply to jahmekyah

St. Mary usually get the better of us.

My Parish has been beating up on St. Ann since salt fish was shingling house.
It's time for a change if the game is to move forward in JA

In reply to hubert

Mature Hubert

How much are you investing..

In reply to sgtdjones

Zilch, for now. I am playing the waiting game on this one. Politricks to the fore now

In reply to jahmekyah

The salary of a Member of Parliament is probably more than $135,000 JA dollars annually. I started to list infrastructure spending and the cost of grounds maintenance, cricket equipment, umpires,food,transportation etc and I realized that continuing this discussion is a waste of time.
Let us forget about this discussion.Sorry.

In reply to FanAttick

Labawrang bruk let’s call it what it is! Nuh dem sey economy booming!

$100 million is chicken feed given the number of schools!

Part of the facade by the labawrang

In reply to Dukes

Not J$135,000 but more than US$135.000, one MP could pay for it out of their own pocket.

In reply to Slipfeeler

Is cus Dey get cuss for not bidding for any games

In reply to hubert
Action not a bag a mouth

In reply to Slipfeeler

My bad.
An MP's salary is a little more than $135,000 USD per annum which is what they are talking about as the money for 1 year into cricket development.
I think that when you realize that the salary for a single MP being more than thy plan to spend on cricket development it brings sharply into focus the reality of the situation. We just ran a 2 day Symposium in St. Thomas and the cost of meals for 60 people ran us almost $600 USD each day.Extrapolate that to feeding cricketers and support staff and the myriad of things needed and the figure of $135,000 per annum is grotesquely unsuitable.

In reply to Dukes

I guess other things are more important to them than cricket development.

In reply to Dukes
You have time bro. Mek dem chat.
Undiluted BS.